Table of Contents

 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2010

Registration No. 333-        

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

Form S-3

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


 

DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Tennessee

 

61-0502302

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer or
Identification No.)

 

100 Mission Ridge
Goodlettsville, Tennessee 37072
(615) 855-4000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Susan S. Lanigan, Esq.
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
100 Mission Ridge
Goodlettsville, Tennessee 37072
(615) 855-4000

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

With copies to:

 

Joseph H. Kaufman, Esq.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017-3954
(212) 455-2000

 

Gary M. Brown, Esq.
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
Baker Donelson Center Suite 800
211 Commerce Street
Nashville, Tennessee 37201
(615) 726-5763

 


 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

 

If the only securities being registered on this Form are to be offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. o

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. x

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o

 

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. x

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Non-accelerated filer x

Accelerated filer o

 

Smaller reporting company o

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class of Securities
to be Registered

 

Amount to be
Registered

 

Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
per Note

 

Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price

 

Amount of
Registration
Fee

 

10.625% Senior Notes due 2015

 

(1)

 

(1)

 

(1)

 

(1)

 

11.875%/12.625% Senior Subordinated Toggle Notes due 2017

 

(1)

 

(1)

 

(1)

 

(1)

 

Guarantees of 10.625% Senior Notes due 2015(2)

 

(1)(3)

 

(1)(3)

 

(1)(3)

 

(1)(3)

 

Guarantees of 11.875%/12.625% Senior Subordinated Toggle Notes due 2017(2)

 

(1)(3)

 

(1)(3)

 

(1)(3)

 

(1)(3)

 

(1)        An indeterminate amount of securities are being registered hereby to be offered solely for market-making purposes by specified affiliates of the registrants. Pursuant to Rule 457(q) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, no filing fee is required.

(2)        See inside facing page for registrant guarantors.

(3)        Pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act, no separate filing fee is required for the guarantees.

 

TABLE OF ADDITIONAL REGISTRANTS

 

Exact Name of Registrant as Specified
in its Charter (or Other
Organizational Document)

 

State or Other
Jurisdiction of
Incorporation
or Organization

 

I.R.S.
Employer
Identification
Number

 

Address, Including Zip Code, of
Registrant’s Principal Executive
Offices

 

Telephone
Number,
Including Area
Code, of
Registrant’s
Principal
Executive
Offices

DC Financial, LLC

 

Tennessee

 

N/A

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

DG Logistics, LLC

 

Tennessee

 

62-1805098

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

DG Promotions, Inc.

 

Tennessee

 

62-1792083

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

DG Retail, LLC

 

Tennessee

 

36-4577242

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

DG Strategic I, LLC

 

Tennessee

 

26-4507991

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

DG Strategic II, LLC

 

Tennessee

 

26-4508076

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

DG Strategic III, LLC

 

Tennessee

 

26-4508134

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

DG Strategic IV, LLC

 

Tennessee

 

27-2199414

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

DG Strategic V, LLC

 

Tennessee

 

27-2199279

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

DG Strategic VI, LLC

 

Tennessee

 

27-2199673

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

DG Strategic VII, LLC

 

Tennessee

 

27-2199597

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

DG Strategic VIII, LLC

 

Tennessee

 

27-2199514

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

DG Transportation, Inc.

 

Tennessee

 

37-1517488

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

Dolgen I, Inc.

 

Tennessee

 

26-4508189

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

Dolgen II, Inc.

 

Tennessee

 

26-4508236

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

Dolgen III, Inc.

 

Tennessee

 

26-4508282

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

Dolgencorp of New York, Inc.

 

Kentucky

 

62-1829863

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

Dolgencorp of Texas, Inc.

 

Kentucky

 

61-1193136

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

Dolgencorp, LLC

 

Kentucky

 

61-0852764

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

Dollar General Partners

 

Kentucky

 

61-1193137

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

Retail Risk Solutions, LLC

 

Tennessee

 

26-1644044

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

South Boston FF&E, LLC

 

Delaware

 

26-0411224

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

South Boston Holdings, Inc.

 

Delaware

 

20-5220571

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

Sun-Dollar, L.P.

 

California

 

95-4629930

 

100 Mission Ridge,
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

615-855-4000

 

Susan S. Lanigan, Esq.
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
100 Mission Ridge
Goodlettsville, Tennessee 37072
(615) 855-4000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service of each co-
registrant)

 

With copies to:

 

Joseph H. Kaufman, Esq.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017-3954
(212) 455-2000

 

Gary M. Brown, Esq.
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
Baker Donelson Center Suite 800
211 Commerce Street
Nashville, Tennessee 37201
(615) 726-5763

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

PROSPECTUS

 

GRAPHIC

 

$979,333,000 10.625% Senior Notes due 2015
Guarantees of 10.625% Senior Notes due 2015

 

$450,697,000 11.875%/12.625% Senior Subordinated Toggle Notes due 2017
Guarantees of 11.875%/12.625% Senior Subordinated Toggle Notes due 2017

 


 

The 10.625% Senior Notes due 2015 (the “senior notes”) bear interest at a rate of 10.625% per annum and will mature on July 15, 2015. Cash interest on the 11.875%/12.625% Senior Subordinated Toggle Notes (the “senior subordinated notes”) will accrue at a rate of 11.875% per annum, and PIK interest will accrue at a rate of 12.625% per annum. The senior subordinated notes will mature on July 15, 2017. The senior notes and the senior subordinated notes are collectively referred to herein as the “notes,” unless the context otherwise requires.

 

We may redeem some or all of the senior notes at any time on or after July 15, 2011 and some or all of the senior subordinated notes at any time on or after July 15, 2012, in each case at the redemption prices set forth in this prospectus. We may redeem some or all of the senior notes prior to July 15, 2011 and some or all of the senior subordinated notes prior to July 15, 2012, in each case at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus the applicable “make-whole” premium as described in this prospectus. On or before July 15, 2010, we may also redeem up to 35% of the senior notes and 35% of the senior subordinated notes, in each case at the redemption prices set forth in this prospectus, using the proceeds of certain equity offerings.

 

The senior notes are senior unsecured obligations of Dollar General Corporation and rank senior in right of payment to our future debt and other obligations that are, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the senior notes, including the senior subordinated notes. The senior notes rank equal in right of payment to all of our existing and future senior debt and other obligations that are not, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the senior notes. The senior notes are effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured debt, including obligations under our senior secured term loan facility and senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and structurally subordinated to all obligations of each of our subsidiaries that is not a guarantor of the senior notes.

 

The senior subordinated notes are senior unsecured obligations and will be subordinated in right of payment to our existing and future senior debt, including obligations under our Credit Facilities and the senior notes. The senior subordinated notes rank equal in right of payment to all of our existing and future senior subordinated debt and other obligations that are not, by the terms of the senior subordinated notes, expressly made senior. The senior subordinated notes are effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured debt, including obligations under our Credit Facilities, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and will be structurally subordinated to all obligations of any subsidiaries that do not guarantee the senior subordinated notes. The senior subordinated notes rank senior in right of payment to all of our future debt and other obligations that are, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the senior subordinated notes.

 


 

Investing in the notes involves risks.  You should carefully consider the “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 of this prospectus, in any applicable prospectus supplement and in the documents that are incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in this prospectus before investing in the notes.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the notes or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 



Table of Contents

 

This prospectus has been prepared for and may be used by Goldman, Sachs & Co. and other affiliates of Goldman, Sachs & Co. in connection with offers and sales of the notes related to market-making transactions in the notes effected from time to time. Such affiliates of Goldman, Sachs & Co. may act as principal or agent in such transactions, including as agent for the counterparty when acting as principal or as agent for both counterparties, and may receive compensation in the form of discounts and commissions, including from both counterparties, when it acts as agents for both. Such sales will be made at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related thereto or at negotiated prices. We will not receive any proceeds from such sales.

 


 

The date of this prospectus is March 31, 2010.

 



Table of Contents

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

About This Prospectus

 

1

Summary of the Terms of the Notes

 

2

Risk Factors

 

7

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

13

Dollar General Corporation

 

15

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

16

Use of Proceeds

 

17

Description of Senior Notes

 

18

Description of Senior Subordinated Notes

 

75

Book-Entry Settlement and Clearance

 

137

Certain U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences

 

140

Certain ERISA Considerations

 

147

Plan of Distribution

 

148

Legal Matters

 

149

Experts

 

149

Incorporation by Reference

 

149

Where You Can Find More Information

 

150

 

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Table of Contents

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the SEC and that has been prepared for and may be used by Goldman, Sachs & Co. and other affiliates of Goldman, Sachs & Co. in connection with offers and sales of the notes related to market making transactions in the notes effected from time to time. Such affiliates of Goldman, Sachs & Co. may act as principal or agent in such transactions, including as agent for the counterparty when acting as principal or as agent for both counterparties, and may receive compensation in the form of discounts and commissions, including from both counterparties, when it acts as agents for both. Such sales will be made at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related thereto or at negotiated prices. We will not receive any proceeds from such sales.  You should read this prospectus together with the additional information described under the heading “Incorporation by Reference” before making an investment in the notes.

 

The rules of the SEC allow us to incorporate by reference information into this prospectus. This means that important information is contained in other documents that are considered to be a part of this prospectus.  Additionally, information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information.  You should carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information that is incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in this prospectus.  See “Incorporation by Reference” before making an investment in the notes.  This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of the documents referred to herein have been filed, or will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.  The registration statement, including the exhibits and documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in this prospectus, can be read on the SEC website or at the SEC offices mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made under it implies that there has been no change in our affairs or that the information in this prospectus is correct as of any date after the date of this prospectus. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, including any information incorporated in this prospectus by reference, is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information, and if you are given any information or representation about these matters that is not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement, you must not rely on that information. We are not making an offer to sell securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale of such securities is not permitted.

 


 

In this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, “Dollar General” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to Dollar General Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. Our fiscal year ends on the Friday closest to January 31. In this prospectus, we refer to each fiscal year by reference to the calendar year to which such fiscal year primarily relates.  For example, the fiscal year ended January 29, 2010 is referred to as “2009” or “fiscal 2009.”

 

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Table of Contents

 

SUMMARY OF THE TERMS OF THE NOTES

 

The summary below, which is not intended to be complete, describes the principal terms of the notes. Certain of the terms and conditions summarized below are subject to important limitations and exceptions. The “Description of Senior Notes” and “Description of Senior Subordinated Notes” sections of this prospectus contain more detailed descriptions of the terms and conditions of the notes.

 

Issuer

 

Dollar General.

 

 

 

Securities

 

$1,430,030,000 in aggregate principal amount of notes, consisting of:

 

 

 

 

 

·

$979,333,000 in aggregate principal amount of 10.625% senior notes due 2015; and

 

 

 

 

 

·

$450,697,000 in aggregate principal amount of 11.875% /12.625% senior subordinated notes due 2017.

 

 

 

Maturity Dates

 

The senior notes will mature on July 15, 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

The senior subordinated notes will mature on July 15, 2017.

 

 

 

Interest Payment Dates

 

Interest on the notes will be payable on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning on January 15, 2008.

 

 

 

Interest Rates and Forms of Payment

 

The senior notes will bear interest at a rate of 10.625% per annum.

 

 

 

 

 

Cash interest on the senior subordinated notes will accrue at a rate of 11.875% per annum, and PIK Interest (defined below) will accrue at a rate of 12.625% per annum. The initial interest payment on the senior subordinated notes will be payable in cash. For any interest period commencing on or after January 15, 2008 through July 15, 2011 we may elect to pay interest on the senior subordinated notes (i) in cash; (ii) by increasing the principal amount of the senior subordinated notes or by issuing new senior subordinated notes (“PIK Notes”) (such increase or issuance, “PIK Interest”) or (iii) by paying interest on half of the principal amount of the senior subordinated notes in cash and half in PIK Interest. If we elect to pay PIK Interest, we will increase the principal amount of the senior subordinated notes or issue PIK Notes, in each case, in an amount equal to the amount of PIK Interest for the applicable interest payment period (rounded up to the nearest $1,000 in the case of global notes and to the nearest whole dollar in the case of senior subordinated notes in certificated form) to holders of the senior subordinated notes on the relevant record date. The senior subordinated notes will bear interest on the increased principal amount thereof from and after the applicable interest payment date on which a payment of PIK Interest is made. We must elect the form of interest payment with respect to each interest period no later than 30 days before the beginning of the applicable interest period. In the absence of such an election or proper notification of such election to the trustee, interest will be payable in accordance with the last election made for the previous interest period.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Original Issue Discount

 

We will have the option to pay interest on the senior subordinated notes in cash interest or PIK Interest for any interest payment period after the initial interest payment through July 15, 2011. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the existence of this option means that none of the interest payments on the senior subordinated notes will be qualified stated interest even if we never exercise the option to pay PIK Interest. Consequently, the senior subordinated notes will be treated as issued with original issue discount, and U.S. holders (as defined in “Certain U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences”) will be required to include the original issue discount in gross income on a constant yield to maturity basis, regardless of whether interest is paid currently in cash. For more information, see “Certain U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences.”

 

 

 

Security

 

None. The notes will be unsecured obligations of the Issuer and the subsidiary guarantors.

 

 

 

Guarantees

 

The senior notes will be unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on an unsecured senior basis, and the senior subordinated notes will be unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on an unsecured senior subordinated basis, in each case, by each of our wholly owned subsidiaries that has guaranteed our senior secured term loan facility and our senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility (collectively, the “Credit Facilities”).

 

 

 

 

 

Our non-guarantor subsidiaries accounted for approximately $91.3 million of net sales and approximately $33.0 million of net income, in each case, for 2009 and approximately $360.0 million of total assets and approximately $264.2 million of total liabilities, in each case, as of January 29, 2010. Included in these net revenues, net income, total assets and total liabilities balances are certain intercompany balances that are eliminated in consolidation.

 

 

 

Ranking

 

The senior notes are our senior unsecured obligations and will:

 

 

 

 

 

·

rank senior in right of payment to our existing and future debt and other obligations that are, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the senior notes, including the senior subordinated notes;

 

 

 

 

 

·

rank equal in right of payment to all of our existing and future senior debt and other obligations that are not, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the senior notes; and

 

 

 

 

 

·

be effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured debt (including obligations under the Credit Facilities), to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and be structurally subordinated to all obligations of each of our subsidiaries that is not a guarantor of the senior notes.

 

 

 

 

 

Similarly, the senior note guarantees will be senior unsecured obligations of the guarantors and will:

 

 

 

 

 

·

rank senior in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s existing and future debt and other obligations that are, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the senior notes, including the applicable guarantor’s guarantee under the senior subordinated notes;

 

 

 

 

 

·

rank equal in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s existing and future senior debt and other obligations that are not, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the senior notes; and

 

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·

be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s existing and future secured debt (including the applicable guarantor’s guarantee under the Credit Facilities), to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and be structurally subordinated to all obligations of any subsidiary of a guarantor if that subsidiary is not also a guarantor of the senior notes.

 

 

 

 

 

The senior subordinated notes are our unsecured senior subordinated obligations and will:

 

 

 

 

 

·

be subordinated in right of payment to our existing and future senior debt, including our Credit Facilities, the senior notes and our 8 5/8% Notes due June 2010 (the “2010 Notes”);

 

 

 

 

 

·

rank equal in right of payment to all of our existing and future senior subordinated debt and other obligations that are not, by the terms of the senior subordinated notes, expressly made senior;

 

 

 

 

 

·

be effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured debt (including obligations under our Credit Facilities), to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and be structurally subordinated to all obligations of any subsidiaries that do not guarantee the senior subordinated notes; and

 

 

 

 

 

·

rank senior in right of payment to all of our future debt and other obligations that are, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the senior subordinated notes.

 

 

 

 

 

Similarly, the senior subordinated note guarantees will be unsecured senior subordinated obligations of the guarantors and will:

 

 

 

 

 

·

be subordinated in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s existing and future senior debt, including such guarantor’s guarantee under our Credit Facilities, the senior notes and the 2010 Notes;

 

 

 

 

 

·

rank equal in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s future senior subordinated debt and other obligations that are not, by the terms of the senior subordinated notes, expressly made senior;

 

 

 

 

 

·

be effectively subordinated to all of the applicable guarantor’s existing and future secured debt (including such guarantor’s guarantee under our Credit Facilities), to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and be structurally subordinated to all obligations of any subsidiary of a guarantor if that subsidiary is not also a guarantor of the senior subordinated notes; and

 

 

 

 

 

·

rank senior in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s future debt and other obligations that are, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the guarantees of the senior subordinated notes.

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

As of January 29, 2010, (1) the notes and related guarantees rank effectively junior to approximately $1,963.5 million of senior secured indebtedness and $22.8 million of payment obligations relating to capital lease obligations and other indebtedness, (2) the senior notes and related guarantees rank senior to the $450.7 million of senior subordinated notes, (3) the senior subordinated notes and related guarantees rank junior to the senior notes and our 2010 Notes, and (4) we had an additional $930.6 million of unutilized capacity under our senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility.

 

 

 

Optional Redemption

 

We may redeem some or all of the senior notes at any time on or after July 15, 2011 and we may redeem some or all of the senior subordinated notes at any time on or after July 15, 2012, in each case at the redemption prices set forth in this prospectus.

 

 

 

 

 

We may redeem some or all of the senior notes prior to July 15, 2011 and some or all of the senior subordinated notes prior to July 15, 2012, in each case at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus the applicable “make-whole” premium as described in this prospectus.

 

 

 

 

 

On or before July 15, 2010, we may also redeem up to 35% of the senior notes and 35% of the senior subordinated notes, in each case, at the redemption prices set forth in this prospectus, using the proceeds of certain equity offerings.

 

 

 

Mandatory Principal Redemption

 

If the senior subordinated notes would otherwise constitute “applicable high yield discount obligations” within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), at the end of each accrual period ending after the fifth anniversary of the senior subordinated notes’ issuance (each, an “AHYDO redemption date”), we will be required to redeem for cash a portion of each senior subordinated note then outstanding equal to the “Mandatory Principal Redemption Amount” (such redemption, a “Mandatory Principal Redemption”). The redemption price for the portion of each senior subordinated note redeemed pursuant to a Mandatory Principal Redemption will be 100% of the principal amount of such portion plus any accrued interest thereon on the date of redemption. The “Mandatory Principal Redemption Amount” means, as of each AHYDO redemption date, the excess, if any, of (a) the aggregate amount of accrued and unpaid interest and all accrued and unpaid “original issue discount” (as defined in Section 1273(a)(1) of the Code) with respect to the senior subordinated notes, over (b) an amount equal to the product of (i) the “issue price” (as defined in Sections 1273(b) and 1274(a) of the Code) of the senior subordinated notes multiplied by (ii) the “yield to maturity” (as defined in the Treasury Regulation Section 1.1272-1(b)(1)(i)) of the senior subordinated notes. No partial redemption or repurchase of the senior subordinated notes prior to any AHYDO redemption date pursuant to any other provision of the indenture governing the senior subordinated notes will alter the Issuer’s obligation to make the Mandatory Principal Redemption with respect to any senior subordinated notes that remain outstanding on any AHYDO redemption date.

 

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Change of Control and Asset Sales

 

If we sell certain assets under certain circumstances, or experience certain change of control events, each holder of senior notes or senior subordinated notes, as applicable, may require us to purchase all or a portion of its notes at the purchase prices set forth in this prospectus, plus accrued and unpaid interest and special interest, if any, to the purchase date. See “Description of Senior Notes—Repurchase at the Option of Holders” and “Description of Senior Subordinated Notes—Repurchase at the Option of Holders.” Our Credit Facilities or other agreements may restrict us from repurchasing any of the notes, including any purchase we may be required to make as a result of a change of control or certain asset sales. See “Risk Factors—We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to finance the change of control offer required by the indentures governing the notes.”

 

 

 

Certain Covenants

 

The indentures governing the notes restrict our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to, among other things:

 

 

 

 

 

·

incur additional indebtedness, issue disqualified stock or issue certain preferred stock;

 

 

 

 

 

·

pay dividends and make certain distributions, investments and other restricted payments;

 

 

 

 

 

·

create certain liens or encumbrances;

 

 

 

 

 

·

sell assets;

 

 

 

 

 

·

enter into transactions with affiliates;

 

 

 

 

 

·

limit the ability of restricted subsidiaries to make payments to us;

 

 

 

 

 

·

merge, consolidate, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets; and

 

 

 

 

 

·

designate our subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries.

 

 

 

 

 

These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications described under the headings “Description of Senior Notes” and “Description of Senior Subordinated Notes.”

 

 

 

Use of Proceeds

 

We will not receive any cash proceeds from the sale of the notes in the offer. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in the notes involves risks. In addition to the risks and uncertainties discussed below under “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” you should carefully review the risks discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2010, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and under the caption “Risk Factors” or any similar caption in the other documents that we have filed or subsequently file with the SEC that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus as described below under “Incorporation by Reference.” You should also carefully review the other risks and uncertainties discussed in the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The risks and uncertainties discussed below and in the documents referred to above and other matters discussed in those documents could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, the market price of the notes and our ability to make payments of principal or interest on the notes, and you may lose all or part of your original investment. Moreover, the risks and uncertainties discussed below and in the foregoing documents are not the only risks and uncertainties that we face, and our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, the market price of the notes and our ability to make payments of principal or interest on the notes could be materially adversely affected by other matters that are not known to us or that we currently do not consider to be material risks to our business.

 

Your ability to transfer the notes may be limited by the absence of an active trading market, and there is no assurance that any active trading market for the notes exists or will continue.

 

We do not intend to apply for a listing of the notes on a securities exchange or any automated dealer quotation system. We cannot assure you as to the liquidity of markets that may develop for the notes, your ability to sell the notes or the price at which you would be able to sell the notes. Certain financial institutions have advised us that they intend to make a market in the notes as permitted by applicable laws and regulations; however, those entities are not obligated to make a market in any of the notes, and they may discontinue their market-making activities at any time without notice. Therefore, an active market for any of the notes, if developed, may not continue. Because Goldman, Sachs & Co. and its respective affiliates may be considered affiliates of ours, they are required to deliver a current “market-maker” prospectus in connection with any secondary market sale of the notes, which may affect their ability to continue market-making activities. Historically, the market for non investment-grade debt has been subject to disruptions that have caused substantial volatility in the prices of securities similar to the notes. The market, if any, for any of the notes may not be free from similar disruptions and any such disruptions may adversely affect the prices at which you may sell your notes. In addition, the notes may trade at a discount from your purchase price, depending upon prevailing interest rates, the market for similar notes, our performance and other factors.

 

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness, including the notes, and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness, which may not be successful.

 

Our ability to make scheduled payments on or to refinance our debt obligations depends on our financial condition and operating performance, which is subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to certain financial, business and other factors beyond our control. We may be unable to maintain a level of cash flow from operating activities sufficient to permit us to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness, including the notes.

 

If our cash flow and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures, or to sell assets, seek additional capital or restructure or refinance our indebtedness, including the notes. These alternative measures may not be successful and may not permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. In the absence of such operating results and resources, we could face substantial liquidity problems and might be required to dispose of material assets or operations to meet our debt service and other obligations. Our senior secured credit agreement and the indentures governing the notes will restrict our ability to dispose of assets and use the proceeds from such disposition. We may not be able to consummate those dispositions or to obtain the proceeds that we could realize from them, and these proceeds may not be adequate to meet any debt service obligations then due.

 

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Repayment of our debt, including each series of notes, is dependent on cash flow generated by our subsidiaries and their ability to make distributions to us.

 

Our subsidiaries own a significant portion of our assets and conduct a significant portion of our operations. Accordingly, repayment of our indebtedness, including each series of notes, is dependent, to a significant extent, on the generation of cash flow by our subsidiaries and their ability to make such cash available to us, by dividend, debt repayment or otherwise. Unless they are guarantors of the notes, our subsidiaries do not have any obligation to pay amounts due on the notes or to make funds available for that purpose. Our subsidiaries may not be able to, or may not be permitted to, make distributions to enable us to make payments in respect of our indebtedness, including the notes. Each subsidiary is a distinct legal entity and, under certain circumstances, legal and contractual restrictions may limit our ability to obtain cash from our subsidiaries. While the indentures governing the notes will limit the ability of our subsidiaries to incur consensual restrictions on their ability to pay dividends or make other intercompany payments to us, these limitations are subject to certain qualifications and exceptions. In the event that we do not receive distributions from our subsidiaries, we may be unable to make required principal and interest payments on our indebtedness, including the notes.

 

U.S. Holders will be required to pay U.S. federal income tax on the senior subordinated notes whether we pay interest on the senior subordinated notes in cash or PIK Interest.

 

We have the option to pay interest on the senior subordinated notes in cash interest or PIK Interest for any interest payment period after the initial interest payment through July 15, 2011. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the existence of this option means that none of the interest payments on the senior subordinated notes will be qualified stated interest even if we never exercise the option to pay PIK Interest. Consequently, the senior subordinated notes will be treated as issued with original issue discount, and U.S. holders (as defined in “Certain U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences”) will be required to include the original issue discount in gross income on a constant yield to maturity basis, regardless of whether interest is paid currently in cash. See “Description of Senior Subordinated Notes—Principal, Maturity and Interest” and “Certain U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences.”

 

Claims of noteholders will be structurally subordinated to the claims of creditors of our non-guarantor subsidiaries.

 

The notes will not be guaranteed by all of our subsidiaries. For example, our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Credit Facilities will not guarantee the notes. Accordingly, claims of holders of the notes will be structurally subordinate to the claims of creditors of these non-guarantor subsidiaries, including trade creditors. All obligations of our non-guarantor subsidiaries will have to be satisfied before any of the assets of such subsidiaries would be available for distribution, upon a liquidation or otherwise, to us or a guarantor of the notes.

 

Our non-guarantor subsidiaries accounted for approximately $91.3 million of net sales and approximately $33.0 million of net income, in each case, for 2009 and approximately $360.0 million of total assets and approximately $264.2 million of total liabilities, in each case, as of January 29, 2010. Included in these net revenues, net income, total assets and total liabilities balances are certain intercompany balances that are eliminated in consolidation.

 

Your right to receive payments on each series of notes is effectively junior to those lenders who have a security interest in our assets.

 

Our obligations under the notes and our guarantors’ obligations under their guarantees of the notes are unsecured, but our obligations under our Credit Facilities and each guarantor’s obligations under its respective guarantee of the Credit Facilities are secured by a security interest in substantially all of our domestic tangible and intangible assets, including the stock of most of our wholly owned U.S. subsidiaries, and a portion of the assets and a portion of the stock of certain of our non-U.S. subsidiaries. If we are declared bankrupt or insolvent, or if we default under our Credit Facilities, the lenders could declare all of the funds borrowed thereunder, together with accrued interest, immediately due and payable. If we were unable to repay such indebtedness, the lenders could foreclose on the pledged assets to the exclusion of holders of the notes, even if an event of default exists under the indentures governing the notes at such time. Furthermore, if the lenders foreclose and sell the pledged equity

 

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interests in any subsidiary guarantor under the notes, then that guarantor will be released from its guarantee of the notes automatically and immediately upon such sale. In any such event, because the notes will not be secured by any of our assets or the equity interests in subsidiary guarantors, it is possible that there would be no assets remaining from which your claims could be satisfied or, if any assets remained, they might be insufficient to satisfy your claims fully.

 

As of January 29, 2010, we had $1,986.3 million of senior secured indebtedness, comprised of financing and capital lease obligations, other debt instruments and indebtedness under our Credit Facilities, not including unused capacity of $930.6 million under our revolving asset-based credit facility, subject to borrowing base availability. The indentures governing the notes will permit us and our restricted subsidiaries to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, including senior secured indebtedness.

 

Your right to receive payments on the senior subordinated notes will be junior to our existing and future senior indebtedness, including borrowings under our Credit Facilities and the senior notes.

 

The senior subordinated notes and the related guarantees will be contractually subordinated to all of our current and future senior indebtedness (other than trade payables), including our borrowings under our Credit Facilities and the senior notes, and all of our and the guarantors’ future borrowings (other than trade payables), except any future indebtedness that expressly provides that it ranks equal with, or subordinated in right of payment to, the senior subordinated notes and the related guarantees. As a result of such subordination, in the event of the bankruptcy, liquidation or dissolution of us or any subsidiary guarantor, our assets or the assets of the applicable subsidiary guarantor would be available to pay obligations under the senior subordinated notes and our other senior subordinated obligations only after all payments had been made on our senior indebtedness or the senior indebtedness of the applicable subsidiary guarantor. Sufficient assets may not remain after all of these payments have been made to make any payments on the senior subordinated notes and our other senior subordinated obligations, including payments of interest when due. In addition, all payments on the senior subordinated notes and the related guarantees will be blocked in the event of a payment default on senior debt and may be blocked for up to 179 of 360 consecutive days in the event of certain non-payment defaults on senior debt.

 

In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization or similar proceeding relating to us or the guarantors, holders of the senior subordinated notes will participate with trade creditors and all other holders of our and the guarantors’ subordinated indebtedness in the assets remaining after we and the guarantors have repaid all of our senior debt. However, because the indenture governing the senior subordinated notes requires that amounts otherwise payable to holders of the senior subordinated notes in a bankruptcy or similar proceeding be paid to holders of senior debt instead, holders of the senior subordinated notes may receive less, ratably, than holders of trade payables in any such proceeding. In any of these cases, we and the guarantors may not have sufficient funds to pay all of our creditors and holders of senior subordinated notes may receive less, ratably, than the holders of our senior debt.

 

As of January 29, 2010, (1) the notes and related guarantees rank effectively junior to approximately $1,963.5 million of senior secured indebtedness and $22.8 million of payment obligations relating to capital lease obligations and other indebtedness, (2) the senior notes and related guarantees rank senior to the $450.7 million of senior subordinated notes, (3) the senior subordinated notes and related guarantees rank junior to the senior notes and our 2010 Notes, and (4) we had an additional $930.6 million of unutilized capacity under our senior secured asset based revolving credit facility.

 

As of January 29, 2010, the senior subordinated notes and the related guarantees are subordinated to $2,952.7 million of senior debt, $1,986.3 million of which is secured debt, and up to $930.6 million is available for borrowing as additional senior secured debt under our Credit Facilities, subject to borrowing base availability.

 

If we default on our obligations to pay our indebtedness, we may not be able to make payments on the notes.

 

Any default under the agreements governing our indebtedness, including a default under the senior secured credit agreements, that is not waived by the required lenders, and the remedies sought by the holders of such indebtedness, could prevent us from paying principal, premium, if any, and interest on the notes and substantially decrease the market value of the notes. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow and are otherwise unable to

 

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obtain funds necessary to meet required payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the various covenants in the instruments governing our indebtedness (including covenants in our Credit Facilities and the indentures under which the notes were issued), we could be in default under the terms of the agreements governing such indebtedness, including our senior secured credit agreements and the indentures under which the notes were issued. In the event of such default, the holders of such indebtedness could elect to declare all the funds borrowed thereunder to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest, the lenders under our Credit Facilities could elect to terminate their commitments thereunder, cease making further loans and institute foreclosure proceedings against our assets, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. If our operating performance declines, we may in the future need to obtain waivers from the required lenders under our Credit Facilities to avoid being in default. If we breach our covenants under our Credit Facilities and seek a waiver, we may not be able to obtain a waiver from the required lenders. If this occurs, we would be in default under our senior secured credit agreements, the lenders could exercise their rights, as described above, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.

 

We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to finance the change of control offer required by the indentures governing the notes.

 

Upon the occurrence of a “change of control,” as defined in the indentures governing the notes, we must offer to buy back the notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of the repurchase. Our failure to purchase, or give notice of purchase of, the senior notes or the senior subordinated notes, as applicable, would be a default under each of the indentures governing the notes, which would also be a default under our Credit Facilities.

 

If a change of control occurs, it is possible that we may not have sufficient assets at the time of the change of control to make the required repurchase of notes or to satisfy all obligations under our Credit Facilities and the indentures under which the notes were issued. In order to satisfy our obligations, we could seek to refinance the indebtedness under our Credit Facilities and the indentures or obtain a waiver from the lenders or you as a holder of notes. We cannot assure you that we would be able to obtain a waiver or refinance our indebtedness on terms acceptable to us, if at all.

 

The lenders under our Credit Facilities have the discretion to release the guarantors under the senior secured credit agreements in a variety of circumstances, which will cause those guarantors to be released from their guarantees of the notes.

 

While any obligations under our Credit Facilities remain outstanding, any guarantee of the notes may be released without action by, or consent of, any holder of the notes or the trustee under the indentures governing the notes, at the discretion of lenders under our Credit Facilities, if such guarantor is no longer a guarantor of obligations under our Credit Facilities or any other indebtedness. See “Description of Senior Notes—Guarantees” and “Description of Senior Subordinated Notes—Guarantees.” The lenders under our Credit Facilities have the discretion to release the guarantees under our Credit Facilities in a variety of circumstances. You will not have a claim as a creditor against any subsidiary that is no longer a guarantor of the notes, and the indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, whether secured or unsecured, of those subsidiaries will effectively be senior to claims of noteholders.

 

Federal and state fraudulent transfer laws may permit a court to void the guarantees, and, if that occurs, you may not receive any payments on the notes.

 

Federal and state fraudulent transfer and conveyance statutes may apply to the issuance of the notes and the incurrence of the guarantees. Under federal bankruptcy law and comparable provisions of state fraudulent transfer or conveyance laws, which may vary from state to state, the notes or guarantees could be voided as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance if (1) we or any of the guarantors, as applicable, issued the notes or incurred the guarantees with the intent of hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors or (2) we or any of the guarantors, as applicable, received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration in return for either issuing the notes or incurring the guarantees and, in the case of (2) only, one of the following is also true at the time thereof:

 

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·                  we or any of the guarantors, as applicable, were insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of the issuance of the notes or the incurrence of the guarantees;

 

·                  the issuance of the notes or the incurrence of the guarantees left us or any of the guarantors, as applicable, with an unreasonably small amount of capital to carry on the business;

 

·                  we or any of the guarantors intended to, or believed that we or such guarantor would, incur debts beyond our or such guarantor’s ability to pay as they mature; or

 

·                  we or any of the guarantors was a defendant in an action for money damages, or had a judgment for money damages docketed against us or such guarantor if, in either case, after final judgment, the judgment is unsatisfied.

 

If a court were to find that the issuance of the notes or the incurrence of the guarantee was a fraudulent transfer or conveyance, the court could void the payment obligations under the notes or such guarantee or further subordinate the notes or such guarantee to presently existing and future indebtedness of ours or of the related guarantor, or require the holders of the notes to repay any amounts received with respect to such guarantee. In the event of a finding that a fraudulent transfer or conveyance occurred, you may not receive any repayment on the notes. Further, the voidance of the notes could result in an event of default with respect to our and our subsidiaries’ other debt that could result in acceleration of such debt.

 

As a general matter, value is given for a transfer or an obligation if, in exchange for the transfer or obligation, property is transferred or an antecedent debt is secured or satisfied. A debtor will generally not be considered to have received value in connection with a debt offering if the debtor uses the proceeds of that offering to make a dividend payment or otherwise retire or redeem equity securities issued by the debtor.

 

We cannot be certain as to the standards a court would use to determine whether or not we or the guarantors were solvent at the relevant time or, regardless of the standard that a court uses, that the issuance of the guarantees would not be further subordinated to our or any of our guarantors’ other debt.

 

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., L.P. (“KKR”), certain affiliates of Goldman, Sachs & Co. (the “GS Investors”), and other equity co-investors (collectively, the “Investors”) have significant influence over us, including control over decisions that require the approval of shareholders, and their interests could conflict with your interests.

 

We are controlled by the Investors. The Investors have an indirect interest in over 85% of our outstanding common stock through their investment in Buck Holdings, L.P. As a result, the Investors have control over our decisions to enter into any corporate transaction and have the ability to prevent any transaction that requires shareholder approval regardless of whether noteholders believe that any such transactions are in their own best interests. For example, the Investors could cause us to make acquisitions that increase the amount of indebtedness that is secured or that is senior to the notes or to sell assets, which may impair our ability to make payments under the notes. As long as the Investors continue to have an indirect interest in a majority of our outstanding common stock, they will have the ability to control the vote in any election of directors. In addition, pursuant to a shareholders’ agreement that we entered into with Buck Holdings, L.P., KKR and the GS Investors, KKR has a consent right over certain significant corporate actions and KKR and the GS Investors have certain rights to appoint directors to our Board and its committees.

 

The Investors are also in the business of making investments in companies and may from time to time acquire and hold interests in businesses that compete directly or indirectly with us. The Investors may also pursue acquisition opportunities that may be complementary to our business and, as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us. So long as the Investors, or other funds controlled by or associated with the Investors, continue to indirectly own a significant amount of our outstanding common stock, even if such amount is less than 50%, the Investors will continue to be able to strongly influence or effectively control our decisions.  The concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change of control of our

 

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company, could deprive noteholders of an opportunity to receive a change of control payment as part of a sale of our company and might ultimately affect the market price of our notes.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus and the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated herein by reference, may contain “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the Securities Act, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the Exchange Act.  The words “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seek,” “approximately,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “potential,” “predict,” “project” or similar expressions that concern our strategy, plans, intentions or expectations are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. For example, all statements we make relating to our estimated and projected earnings, revenues, costs, expenditures, cash flows, growth rates and financial results, our plans and objectives for future operations, growth or initiatives, strategies, or the expected outcome or impact of pending or threatened litigation are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors (including, without limitation, those described above under “Risk Factors”), that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those that we expected or that were expressed or implied by the forward looking statements, including:

 

·                  failure to successfully execute our growth strategy, including delays in store growth, difficulties executing sales and operating profit margin initiatives and inventory shrinkage reduction;

 

·                  the failure of our new store base to achieve sales and operating levels consistent with our expectations;

 

·                  risks and challenges in connection with sourcing merchandise from domestic and foreign vendors;

 

·                  our level of success in gaining and maintaining broad market acceptance of our private brands;

 

·                  unfavorable publicity or consumer perception of our products;

 

·                  our debt levels and restrictions in our debt agreements;

 

·                  economic conditions, including their effect on the financial and capital markets, our suppliers and business partners, employment levels, consumer demand, spending patterns, inflation and the cost of goods;

 

·                  levels of inventory shrinkage;

 

·                  seasonality of our business;

 

·                  increases in costs of fuel, or other energy, transportation or utilities costs and in the costs of labor, employment and health care;

 

·                  the impact of governmental laws and regulations and the outcomes of legal proceedings;

 

·                  disruptions in our supply chain;

 

·                  damage or interruption to our information systems;

 

·                  changes in the competitive environment in our industry and the markets where we operate;

 

·                  natural disasters, unusually adverse weather conditions, pandemic outbreaks, boycotts and geo-political events;

 

·                  the incurrence of material uninsured losses or excessive insurance costs;

 

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·                  our failure to protect our brand name;

 

·                  our loss of key personnel or our inability to hire additional qualified personnel; and

 

·                  our failure to maintain effective internal controls.

 

We derive many of our forward-looking statements from our operating budgets and forecasts, which are based upon many detailed assumptions. While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, we caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and, it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations (“cautionary statements”) are disclosed under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2010, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and under the caption “Risk Factors” or any similar caption in the other documents that we have filed or subsequently file with the SEC that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus as described below under “Incorporation by Reference.”   All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us, or persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.  Please keep this cautionary note in mind as you read this prospectus, the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference herein.

 

We caution you that the important factors referenced above may not contain all of the factors that are important to you. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will realize the results or developments we expect or anticipate or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the consequences or affect us or our operations in the way we expect. The forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

 

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DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION

 

We are the largest discount retailer in the United States by number of stores, with 8,877 stores located in 35 states as of February 26, 2010, primarily in the southern, southwestern, midwestern and eastern United States. We offer a broad selection of merchandise, including consumables, seasonal, home products and apparel. Our merchandise includes high quality national brands from leading manufacturers, as well as comparable quality private brand selections with prices at substantial discounts to national brands. We offer our merchandise at everyday low prices (typically $10 or less) through our convenient small-box (small store) locations.

 

J.L. Turner founded our Company in 1939 as J.L. Turner and Son, Wholesale. We were incorporated as a Kentucky corporation under the name J.L. Turner & Son, Inc. in 1955, when we opened our first Dollar General store. We changed our name to Dollar General Corporation in 1968 and reincorporated in 1998 as a Tennessee corporation. Our common stock was publicly traded from 1968 until July 2007, when we merged with an entity controlled by investment funds affiliated with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., L.P. (“KKR”). On November 13, 2009 our common stock again became publicly traded upon our completion of an initial public offering of 39,215,000 shares of our common stock, including 22,700,000 newly issued shares. We are a subsidiary of Buck Holdings, L.P, a Delaware limited partnership controlled by KKR, which beneficially owns over 85% of our outstanding common stock.

 

Our principal executive office is located at 100 Mission Ridge, Goodlettsville, TN 37072 and our phone number is (615) 855-4000 and our website address is www.dollargeneral com. The information contained in our website is not a part of this prospectus.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

The following table sets forth the ratio of our earnings to our fixed charges for the periods indicated.

 

 

 

Historical

 

Pro

 

Historical

 

 

 

Predecessor

 

Successor

 

Forma

 

Successor

 

 

 

Fiscal Year Ended

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal Year Ended

 

Ratios of earnings to fixed
charges(1)

 

February 3,
2006(2)

 

February 2,
2007

 

February 3,
2007
through
July 6,
2007

 

March 6,
2007
through
February 1,
2008

 

February 1,
2008

 

January 30,
2009

 

January 29,
2010

 

Actual

 

5.3x

 

2.5x

 

1.1x

 

 

(3)

 

 

1.4x

 

2.1x

 

Pro forma (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5)

 

 

 

 

 


(1)        For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, (a) earnings consist of income (loss) before income taxes, plus fixed charges less capitalized expenses related to indebtedness (amortization expense for capitalized interest is not significant) and (b) fixed charges consist of interest expense (whether expensed or capitalized), the amortization of debt issuance costs and discounts related to indebtedness, and the interest portion of rent expense.

 

(2)        The fiscal year ended February 3, 2006 was comprised of 53 weeks.

 

(3)        For the period from March 6, 2007 through February 1, 2008, fixed charges exceeded earnings by $6.6 million.

 

(4)        To give effect to the increase in interest expense resulting from the portion of the notes proceeds used to retire the $198.3 million of our 85/8% unsecured notes due June 10, 2010 as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of the period presented.

 

(5)        For the fiscal year ended February 1, 2008, pro forma fixed charges exceeded earnings by $3.4 million.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

 

This prospectus is delivered in connection with the sale of notes by Goldman, Sachs & Co. and its affiliates in market-making transactions. We will not receive any of the proceeds from such transactions.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR NOTES

 

General

 

Certain terms used in this description are defined under the subheading “Certain Definitions.”

 

Buck Acquisition Corp. issued $1,175,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 10.625% senior notes due 2015 (the “Senior Notes”) under an indenture dated July 6, 2007 (the “Senior Indenture”) among Buck Acquisition Corp., the Guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association (the successor trustee), as trustee (the “Successor Trustee”). Immediately following the closing of the offering and as part of the Transactions, Buck Acquisition Corp. merged with and into Dollar General Corporation, with Dollar General Corporation continuing as the surviving corporation and assuming all the obligations of Buck Acquisition Corp. under the Senior Indenture. In this description, the terms “we,” “our,” “us,” “the Issuer” and “the Company” refer to Buck Acquisition Corp. prior to the merger described above and to Dollar General Corporation as the surviving corporation in the merger, together with its consolidated Subsidiaries (except that “the Issuer” does not include consolidated subsidiaries).  As of the date of this prospectus, $979,333,000 aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes remained outstanding.

 

Effective February 25, 2009 (the “Effective Date”), Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Prior Trustee”) resigned as trustee under the Senior Indenture.  The Company entered into an Instrument of Resignation, Appointment and Acceptance (the “Instrument of Resignation”), effective as of the Effective Date, with the Prior Trustee and the Successor Trustee.  The instrument of Resignation provides that, effective as of the Effective Date, (1) the Prior Trustee assigns, transfers, delivers and confirms to the Successor Trustee all of its rights, title, interest under the Senior Indenture and all of its rights, title, interests, capacities, privileges, duties and responsibilities as Trustee under the Senior Indenture; (2) the Company accepts the resignation of the Prior Trustee as Trustee under the Senior Indenture and appoints the Successor Trustee as Trustee under the Senior Indenture; and (3) the Successor Trustee accepts its appointment as successor Trustee, and shall be vested with all of the rights, title, interests, capacities, privileges, duties and responsibilities of the Trustee, under the Senior Indenture. Nothing contained in the Instrument of Resignation shall in any way affect the Company’s obligations to the Prior Trustee under Section 7.07 of the Senior Indenture or any lien created thereunder. In this description, the term “Trustee” refers to the Prior Trustee during the period prior to the Effective Date and to the Successor Trustee for the period commencing on the Effective Date.

 

The following description is only a summary of the material provisions of the Senior Indenture, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of that agreement, including the definitions therein of certain terms used below. We urge you to read the Senior Indenture because it, and not this description, will define your rights as Holders. You may request copies of the Senior Indenture at our address set forth under the heading “Summary.”

 

Brief Description of the Senior Notes

 

The Senior Notes:

 

·                  are general unsecured senior obligations of the Issuer;

·                  are pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future unsecured Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer;

·                  are effectively subordinated to all Secured Indebtedness of the Issuer, including Indebtedness under the Issuer’s new Senior Credit Facilities, to the extent of the collateral securing such Indebtedness;

·                  are senior in right of payment to all existing and future Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer, including the Senior Subordinated Notes;

·                  are structurally subordinated to any existing and future indebtedness and liabilities of non-guarantor Subsidiaries, including the Issuer’s Foreign Subsidiaries and any Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

·                  are initially unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several and senior basis by each Restricted Subsidiary that guarantees the General Credit Facility; and

·                  are subject to registration with the SEC pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

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Guarantees

 

The Guarantors, as primary obligors and not merely as sureties, initially jointly and severally fully and unconditionally guarantee, on a senior basis, the performance and full and punctual payment when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all obligations of the Issuer under the Senior Indenture and the Senior Notes, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest or Special Interest in respect of the Senior Notes, expenses, indemnification or otherwise, on the terms set forth in the Senior Indenture by executing the Senior Indenture.

 

The Restricted Subsidiaries which guarantee the General Credit Facility initially guaranteed the Senior Notes. Each Guarantee is a general unsecured senior obligation of the applicable Guarantor, ranks pari passu in right of payment with all existing and any future Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor, is effectively subordinated to all Secured Indebtedness of such Guarantor to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such Indebtedness, and is senior in right of payment to all existing and any future Subordinated Indebtedness of such Guarantor (including the Senior Subordinated Notes). The Senior Notes will be structurally subordinated to Indebtedness and other liabilities of Subsidiaries of the Issuer that do not guarantee the Senior Notes.

 

Not all of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries guarantee the Senior Notes. In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of these non-Guarantor Subsidiaries, the non-Guarantor Subsidiaries will pay the holders of their debt and their trade creditors before they will be able to distribute any of their assets to the Issuer. None of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries which are Foreign Subsidiaries, non-Wholly Owned Subsidiaries or any Receivables Subsidiaries will guarantee the Senior Credit Facilities, the Senior Notes or the Senior Subordinated Notes.  Our non-Guarantor Subsidiaries accounted for approximately $91.3 million of net revenues and approximately $33.0 million of net income, in each case, for 2009 and approximately $360.0 million of total assets and approximately $264.2 million of total liabilities, in each case, as of January 29, 2010.

 

The obligations of each Guarantor under its Guarantee is limited as necessary to prevent the Guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law.

 

Any entity that makes a payment under its Guarantee will be entitled upon payment in full of all guaranteed obligations under the Senior Indenture to a contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

If a Guarantee were rendered voidable, it could be subordinated by a court to all other indebtedness (including guarantees and other contingent liabilities) of the Guarantor, and, depending on the amount of such indebtedness, a Guarantor’s liability on its Guarantee could be reduced to zero. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Notes—Federal and state fraudulent transfer laws may permit a court to void the guarantees, and, if that occurs, you may not receive any payments on the notes.”

 

Each Guarantee by a Guarantor will provide by its terms that it will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon:

 

(1)                                 (a)     any sale, exchange or transfer (by merger or otherwise) of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor, after which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of all or substantially all the assets of such Guarantor, which sale, exchange or transfer is made in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Senior Indenture;

 

(b)               the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Guarantor of the Senior Credit Facilities or such other guarantee that resulted in the creation of such guarantee, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such guarantee;

 

(c)                the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Senior Indenture; or

 

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(d)     the exercise by the Issuer of its legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option as described under “Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” or the discharge of the Issuer’s obligations under the Senior Indenture in accordance with the terms of the Senior Indenture; and

 

(2)                                  such Guarantor delivering to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in the Senior Indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

Paying Agent and Registrar for the Senior Notes

 

The Issuer maintains one or more paying agents and a registrar for the Senior Notes with offices in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York. As of the date of this prospectus, the paying agent and the registrar for the Senior Notes is the Trustee.

 

The registrar will maintain a register reflecting ownership of the Senior Notes outstanding from time to time and will make payments on and facilitate transfer of Senior Notes on behalf of the Issuer.

 

The Issuer may change the paying agents or the registrars without prior notice to the Holders. The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act as a paying agent or registrar.

 

Transfer and Exchange

 

A Holder may transfer or exchange Senior Notes in accordance with the Senior Indenture. The registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents in connection with a transfer of Senior Notes. Holders will be required to pay all taxes due on transfer. The Issuer will not be required to transfer or exchange any Senior Note selected for redemption. Also, the Issuer will not be required to transfer or exchange any Senior Note for a period of 15 days before a selection of Senior Notes to be redeemed.

 

Principal, Maturity and Interest

 

The Issuer issued $1,175,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes. As of the date of this prospectus, $979,333,000 aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes remained outstanding. The Senior Notes will mature on July 15, 2015. Subject to compliance with the covenant described below under the caption “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock,” the Issuer may issue additional Senior Notes under the Senior Indenture (any such Senior Notes, “Additional Senior Notes”). The Senior Notes, and any Additional Senior Notes subsequently issued under the Senior Indenture, will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Senior Indenture, including waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “Senior Notes” for all purposes of the Senior Indenture and this “Description of Senior Notes” include any Additional Senior Notes that are actually issued.

 

Interest on the Senior Notes accrues at the rate of 10.625% per annum and is payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15, commencing on January 15, 2008, to the Holders of record on the immediately preceding January 1 and July 1. Interest on the Senior Notes accrues from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including the Issue Date. Interest on the Senior Notes is computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

 

Special Interest

 

Special Interest may accrue on the Senior Notes in certain circumstances pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement. Any Special Interest on the Senior Notes will be payable in the same form elected by the Issuer for payment of interest for the applicable interest payment period. All references in the Senior Indenture, in any context, to any interest or other amount payable on or with respect to the Senior Notes shall be deemed to include any Special Interest pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement. Principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the

 

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Senior Notes will be payable at the office or agency of the Issuer maintained for such purpose within the City and State of New York or, at the option of the Issuer, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders of the Senior Notes at their respective addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to the Senior Notes represented by one or more global notes registered in the name of or held by the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holder or Holders thereof. Until otherwise designated by the Issuer, the Issuer’s office or agency in New York will be the office of the Trustee maintained for such purpose.

 

Mandatory Redemption; Offers to Purchase; Open Market Purchases

 

The Issuer will not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Senior Notes. However, under certain circumstances, the Issuer may be required to offer to purchase Senior Notes as described under the caption “Repurchase at the Option of Holders.” The Issuer may from time to time acquire any Senior Notes by means other than a redemption, whether by tender offer, in open market purchases, through negotiated transactions or otherwise.

 

Optional Redemption

 

Except as set forth below, the Issuer will not be entitled to redeem Senior Notes at its option prior to July 15, 2011.

 

At any time prior to July 15, 2011, the Issuer may redeem all or a part of the Senior Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to the registered address of each Holder or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the date of redemption (the “Redemption Date”), subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

 

On and after July 15, 2011, the Issuer may redeem the Senior Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to the registered address of each Holder or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Senior Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon and Special Interest, if any, to the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on July 15 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

 

Percentage

 

2011

 

105.313

%

2012

 

102.656

%

2013 and thereafter

 

100.000

%

 

In addition, until July 15, 2010, the Issuer may, at its option, on one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to 110.625% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon and Special Interest, if any, to the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided that at least 50% of the sum of the original aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes issued under the Senior Indenture and the original principal amount of any Additional Senior Notes issued under the Senior Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; provided further that each such redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

 

Notice of any redemption may be given prior to the redemption thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of an Equity Offering or other corporate transaction.

 

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If the Issuer redeems less than all of the outstanding Senior Notes, the Trustee shall select the Senior Notes to be redeemed in the manner described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Selection and Notice.”

 

Repurchase at the Option of Holders

 

Change of Control

 

The Senior Notes provide that if a Change of Control occurs, unless the Issuer has previously or concurrently mailed a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Senior Notes as described under “Optional Redemption,” the Issuer will make an offer to purchase all of the Senior Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a price in cash (the “Change of Control Payment”) equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders of the Senior Notes of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Issuer will send notice of such Change of Control Offer by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder to the address of such Holder appearing in the security register with a copy to the Trustee or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, with the following information:

 

(1)           that a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to the covenant entitled “Change of Control” and that all Senior Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer will be accepted for payment by the Issuer;

 

(2)           the purchase price and the purchase date, which will be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);

 

(3)           that any Senior Note not properly tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest;

 

(4)           that unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Senior Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest on the Change of Control Payment Date;

 

(5)           that Holders electing to have any Senior Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender such Senior Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of such Senior Notes completed, to the paying agent specified in the notice at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;

 

(6)           that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their tendered Senior Notes and their election to require the Issuer to purchase such Senior Notes; provided that the paying agent receives, not later than the close of business on the 30th day following the date of the Change of Control notice, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Senior Notes tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Senior Notes and its election to have such Senior Notes purchased;

 

(7)           that if the Issuer is redeeming less than all of the Senior Notes, the Holders of the remaining Senior Notes will be issued new Senior Notes that will be equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Senior Notes surrendered. The unpurchased portion of the Senior Notes must be equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; and

 

(8)           the other instructions, as determined by us, consistent with the covenant described hereunder, that a Holder must follow.

 

The Issuer will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent they are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Senior Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of the Senior Indenture, the Issuer will comply with the applicable securities

 

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laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in the Senior Indenture by virtue thereof.

 

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuer will, to the extent permitted by law,

 

(1)           accept for payment all Senior Notes issued by it or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

 

(2)           deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the aggregate Change of Control Payment in respect of all Senior Notes or portions thereof so tendered; and

 

(3)           deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation the Senior Notes so accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that such Senior Notes or portions thereof have been tendered to and purchased by the Issuer.

 

The paying agent will promptly mail to each Holder the Change of Control Payment for such Senior Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Senior Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Senior Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Senior Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

The Senior Credit Facilities will, and future credit agreements or other agreements relating to Senior Indebtedness to which the Issuer becomes a party may, provide that certain change of control events with respect to the Issuer would constitute a default thereunder (including a Change of Control under the Senior Indenture). If we experience a change of control that triggers a default under our Senior Credit Facilities, we could seek a waiver of such default or seek to refinance our Senior Credit Facilities. In the event we do not obtain such a waiver or refinance the Senior Credit Facilities, such default could result in amounts outstanding under our Senior Credit Facilities being declared due and payable and could cause a Receivables Facility to be wound down.

 

Our ability to pay cash to the Holders following the occurrence of a Change of Control may be limited by our then-existing financial resources. Therefore, sufficient funds may not be available when necessary to make any required repurchases.

 

The Change of Control purchase feature of the Senior Notes may in certain circumstances make more difficult or discourage a sale or takeover of us and, thus, the removal of incumbent management. The Change of Control purchase feature is a result of negotiations between the Initial Purchasers and us. After the Issue Date, we have no present intention to engage in a transaction involving a Change of Control, although it is possible that we could decide to do so in the future. Subject to the limitations discussed below, we could, in the future, enter into certain transactions, including acquisitions, refinancings or other recapitalizations, that would not constitute a Change of Control under the Senior Indenture, but that could increase the amount of indebtedness outstanding at such time or otherwise affect our capital structure or credit ratings. Restrictions on our ability to incur additional Indebtedness are contained in the covenants described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” and “Certain Covenants—Liens.” Such restrictions in the Senior Indenture can be waived only with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Senior Notes then outstanding. Except for the limitations contained in such covenants, however, the Senior Indenture will not contain any covenants or provisions that may afford Holders protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction.

 

The Issuer will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Senior Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by us and purchases all Senior Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

 

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The definition of “Change of Control” includes a disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer to any Person. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, in certain circumstances there may be a degree of uncertainty as to whether a particular transaction would involve a disposition of “all or substantially all” of the assets of the Issuer. As a result, it may be unclear as to whether a Change of Control has occurred and whether a Holder may require the Issuer to make an offer to repurchase the Senior Notes as described above.

 

The provisions under the Senior Indenture relating to the Issuer’s obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Senior Notes as a result of a Change of Control may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Senior Notes.

 

Asset Sales

 

The Senior Indenture provides that the Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to consummate, directly or indirectly, an Asset Sale, unless:

 

(1)                                  the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of; and

 

(2)                                  except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

 

(a)                                  any liabilities (as shown on the Issuer’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto) of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Senior Notes, that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets and for which the Issuer and all of its Restricted Subsidiaries have been validly released by all creditors in writing,

 

(b)                                 any securities received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received) within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Sale, and

 

(c)                                  any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (c) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed 5.0% of Total Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value,

 

shall be deemed to be cash for purposes of this provision and for no other purpose.

 

Within 360 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, at its option, may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale,

 

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(1)                                  to permanently reduce:

 

(a)                                  Obligations under the Senior Notes or any other Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor (other than Obligations owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) and, in the case of Obligations under revolving credit facilities or other similar Indebtedness, to correspondingly permanently reduce commitments with respect thereto; provided that if the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary shall so reduce Obligations under any Senior Indebtedness that is not secured by a Lien, the Issuer or such Guarantor will, equally and ratably, reduce Obligations under the Senior Notes by, at its option, (A) redeeming Senior Notes, (B) making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer) to all Holders to purchase their Senior Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, on the principal amount of Senior Notes to be repurchased or (C) purchasing Senior Notes through open market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at a price equal to or higher than 100% of the principal amount thereof) in a manner that complies with the Senior Indenture and applicable securities law; or

 

(b)                                 Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(2)                                  to make (a) an Investment in any one or more businesses, provided that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock and results in the Issuer or another of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes a Restricted Subsidiary, (b) capital expenditures or (c) acquisitions of other assets, in each of (a), (b) and (c), used or useful in a Similar Business; or

 

(3)                                  to make an Investment in (a) any one or more businesses, provided that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock and results in the Issuer or another of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes a Restricted Subsidiary, (b) properties or (c) acquisitions of other assets that, in each of (a), (b) and (c), replace the businesses, properties and/or assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale;

 

provided that, in the case of clauses (2) and (3) above, a binding commitment shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as the Issuer, or such other Restricted Subsidiary enters into such commitment with the good faith expectation that such Net Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 180 days of such commitment (an “Acceptable Commitment”) and, in the event any Acceptable Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before the Net Proceeds are applied in connection therewith, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into another Acceptable Commitment (a “Second Commitment”) within 180 days of such cancellation or termination; provided, further, that if any Second Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds.

 

Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not invested or applied as provided and within the time period set forth in the first sentence of the preceding paragraph will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $75.0 million, the Issuer shall make an offer to all Holders and, if required or permitted by the terms of any Senior Indebtedness, to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (an “Asset Sale Offer”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes and such Senior Indebtedness that is a minimum of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Senior Indenture. The Issuer will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within ten Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $75.0 million by mailing the notice required pursuant to the terms of the Senior Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee.

 

To the extent that the aggregate amount of Senior Notes and such Senior Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Issuer may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes, subject to other covenants contained in the Senior Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes or other Senior Indebtedness surrendered by such holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess

 

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Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Senior Notes and such other Senior Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of the Senior Notes or such Senior Indebtedness tendered. Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero. Additionally, the Issuer may, at its option, make an Asset Sale Offer using proceeds from any Asset Sale at any time after consummation of such Asset Sale; provided that such Asset Sale Offer shall be in an aggregate amount of not less than $75.0 million. Upon consummation of such Asset Sale Offer, any Net Proceeds not required to be used to purchase Senior Notes shall not be deemed Excess Proceeds.

 

Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds pursuant to this covenant, the holder of such Net Proceeds may apply such Net Proceeds temporarily to reduce Indebtedness outstanding under a revolving credit facility or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by the Senior Indenture.

 

The Issuer will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Senior Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of the Senior Indenture, the Issuer will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in the Senior Indenture by virtue thereof.

 

The Senior Credit Facilities will prohibit or limit (subject to limited exceptions), and future credit agreements or other agreements to which the Issuer becomes a party may limit or prohibit, the Issuer from purchasing any Senior Notes as a result of an Asset Sale Offer. In the event the Issuer is required to make an Asset Sale Offer at a time when the Issuer is prohibited from purchasing the Senior Notes, the Issuer could seek the consent of its lenders to permit the purchase of the Senior Notes or could attempt to refinance the borrowings that contain such prohibition. If the Issuer does not obtain such consent or repay such borrowings, the Issuer will remain prohibited from purchasing the Senior Notes. In such case, the Issuer’s failure to purchase tendered Senior Notes would constitute an Event of Default under the Senior Indenture.

 

The provisions under the Senior Indenture relative to the Issuer’s obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Senior Notes as a result of an Asset Sale may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Senior Notes.

 

Selection and Notice

 

If the Issuer is redeeming less than all of the Senior Notes issued at any time, the Trustee will select the Senior Notes to be redeemed (a) if the Senior Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Senior Notes are listed, (b) on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable or (c) by lot or such other similar method in accordance with the procedures of DTC.

 

Notices of purchase or redemption shall be mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the purchase or Redemption Date to each Holder at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Senior Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Senior Indenture. If any Senior Note is to be purchased or redeemed in part only, any notice of purchase or redemption that relates to such Senior Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof that has been or is to be purchased or redeemed.

 

The Issuer will issue a new Senior Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Senior Note in the name of the Holder upon cancellation of the original Senior Note. Senior Notes called for redemption become due on the date fixed for redemption. On and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue on Senior Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

 

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Certain Covenants

 

Limitation on Restricted Payments

 

The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

(I)                                    declare or pay any dividend or make any payment or distribution on account of the Issuer’s, or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any dividend or distribution payable in connection with any merger or consolidation other than:

 

(a)                                  dividends or distributions by the Issuer payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer; or

 

(b)                                 dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities;

 

(II)                                purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, including in connection with any merger or consolidation;

 

(III)                            make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value in each case, prior to any scheduled repayment, sinking fund payment or maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness, other than:

 

(a)                                  Indebtedness permitted under clauses (8) and (9) of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”; or

 

(b)                                 the purchase, repurchase or other acquisition of Subordinated Indebtedness purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of purchase, repurchase or acquisition; or

 

(IV)                            make any Restricted Investment

 

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (I) through (IV) above (other than any exception thereto) being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

 

(1)                                  no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

 

(2)                                  immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Issuer could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the provisions of the first paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”; and

 

(3)                                  such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (1), (2) (with respect to the payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock (as defined below) pursuant to clause (b) thereof only), (6)(c), (9) and (14) of the next succeeding paragraph, but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum of (without duplication):

 

(a)                                  50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for the period (taken as one accounting period) beginning May 4, 2007, to the end of the Issuer’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment, or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit; plus

 

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(b)                                 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Issuer, of marketable securities or other property received by the Issuer since immediately after the Issue Date from the issue or sale of:

 

(i)                                     (A) Equity Interests of the Issuer, including Treasury Capital Stock (as defined below), but excluding cash proceeds and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Issuer, of marketable securities or other property received from the sale of:

 

(x)                                   Equity Interests to members of management, directors or consultants of the Issuer, any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries after the Issue Date to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with clause (4) of the next succeeding paragraph; and

 

(y)                                 Designated Preferred Stock; and

 

(B) to the extent such net cash proceeds are actually contributed to the Issuer, Equity Interests of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies (excluding contributions of the proceeds from the sale of Designated Preferred Stock of such companies or contributions to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with clause (4) of the next succeeding paragraph); or

 

(ii)                                  debt securities of the Issuer that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests of the Issuer;

 

provided, however, that this clause (b) shall not include the proceeds from (V) Refunding Capital Stock (as defined below), (W) Equity Interests of the Issuer or convertible debt securities of the Issuer sold to a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, (X) Disqualified Stock or debt securities that have been converted into Disqualified Stock, (Y) Excluded Contributions or (Z) transactions whose proceeds were used to incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to clause (13)(a) of the second paragraph of “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock,” solely to the extent of such usage; plus

 

(c)                                  100% of the aggregate amount of cash and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Issuer, of marketable securities or other property contributed to the capital of the Issuer following the Issue Date (other than net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds (i) have been used to incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to clause (13)(a) of the second paragraph of “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock,” (ii) are contributed by a Restricted Subsidiary or (iii) constitute Excluded Contributions; plus

 

(d)                                 to the extent not already included in Consolidated Net Income, 100% of the aggregate amount received in cash and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Issuer, of marketable securities or other property received by means of:

 

(i)                                     the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case after the Issue Date; or

 

(ii)                                  the sale (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than in each case to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (7) of the next succeeding paragraph or to the extent such

 

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Investment constituted a Permitted Investment) or a dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date; plus

 

(e)                                  in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, the fair market value of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary, as determined by the Issuer in good faith (or if such fair market value exceeds $75.0 million, in writing by an Independent Financial Advisor), at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary other than to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (7) of the next succeeding paragraph or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment.

 

The foregoing provisions will not prohibit:

 

(1)                                  the payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of the Senior Indenture;

 

(2)                                  (a) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“Treasury Capital Stock”) or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent contributed to the Issuer (in each case, other than any Disqualified Stock) (“Refunding Capital Stock”) and (b) if immediately prior to the retirement of Treasury Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon was permitted under clause (6) of this paragraph, the declaration and payment of dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock (other than Refunding Capital Stock the proceeds of which were used to redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer) in an aggregate amount per year no greater than the aggregate amount of dividends per annum that were declarable and payable on such Treasury Capital Stock immediately prior to such retirement;

 

(3)                                  the redemption, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor made in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor, as the case may be, which is incurred in compliance with “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” so long as:

 

(a)                                  the principal amount (or accreted value) of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value, plus the amount of any reasonable premium (including reasonable tender premiums), defeasance costs and any reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness;

 

(b)                                 such new Indebtedness is subordinated to the Senior Notes or the applicable Guarantee at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value;

 

(c)                                  such new Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired; and

 

(d)                                 such new Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired;

 

(4)                                  a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies held by any future, present or former employee, director or consultant of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies pursuant to any management equity plan or stock

 

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option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement, including any Equity Interests rolled over by management of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies in connection with the Transactions; provided, however, that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (4) do not exceed in any calendar year $12.5 million (which shall increase to $25.0 million subsequent to the consummation of an underwritten public Equity Offering by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Issuer) (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $50.0 million in any calendar year (which shall increase to $100.0 million subsequent to the consummation of an underwritten public Equity Offering by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent corporation of the Issuer)); provided further that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

 

(a)                                  the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer and, to the extent contributed to the Issuer, Equity Interests of any of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies, in each case to members of management, directors or consultants of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that occurs after the Issue Date to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of clause (3) of the preceding paragraph; plus

 

(b)                                 the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date; less

 

(c)                                  the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (a) and (b) of this clause (4);

 

and provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from members of management of the Issuer, any of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies or any of the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this covenant or any other provision of the Senior Indenture;

 

(5)                                  the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any class or series of Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary issued in accordance with the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Fixed Charges”;

 

(6)                                  (a)  the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued by the Issuer after the Issue Date;

 

(b)                                 the declaration and payment of dividends to a direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of such parent company issued after the Issue Date; provided that the amount of dividends paid pursuant to this clause (b) shall not exceed the aggregate amount of cash actually contributed to the Issuer from the sale of such Designated Preferred Stock; or

 

(c)                                  the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock in excess of the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to clause (2) of this paragraph;

 

provided, however, in the case of each of (a), (b) and (c) of this clause (6), that for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock or the declaration of such dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance or declaration on a pro forma basis, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00;

 

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(7)                                  Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (7) that are at the time outstanding, without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or marketable securities, not to exceed $50.0 million at the time of such Investment (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

 

(8)                                  repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;

 

(9)                                  the declaration and payment of dividends on the Issuer’s common stock (or the payment of dividends to any direct or indirect parent entity to fund a payment of dividends on such entity’s common stock), following consummation of the first public offering of the Issuer’s common stock or the common stock of any of its direct or indirect parent companies after the Issue Date, of up to 6% per annum of the net cash proceeds received by or contributed to the Issuer in or from any such public offering, other than public offerings with respect to the Issuer’s common stock registered on Form S-8 and other than any public sale constituting an Excluded Contribution;

 

(10)                            Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

 

(11)                            other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (11) not to exceed $100.0 million at the time made;

 

(12)                            distributions or payments of Receivables Fees;

 

(13)                            any Restricted Payment made as part of the Transactions and the fees and expenses related thereto or used to fund amounts owed to Affiliates (including dividends to any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to permit payment by such parent of such amount), in each case to the extent permitted by the covenant described under “—Transactions with Affiliates”;

 

(14)                            the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness in accordance with the provisions similar to those described under the captions “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control” and “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales”; provided that all Senior Notes tendered by Holders in connection with a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value;

 

(15)                            the declaration and payment of dividends by the Issuer to, or the making of loans to, any direct or indirect parent in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent companies to pay, in each case without duplication,

 

(a)                                  franchise and excise taxes and other fees, taxes and expenses required to maintain their corporate existence;

 

(b)                                 foreign, federal, state and local income taxes, to the extent such income taxes are attributable to the income of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and, to the extent of the amount actually received from its Unrestricted Subsidiaries, in amounts required to pay such taxes to the extent attributable to the income of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries; provided that in each case the amount of such payments in any fiscal year does not exceed the amount that the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be required to pay in respect of foreign, federal, state and local taxes for such fiscal year were the Issuer, its Restricted Subsidiaries and its Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent described above) to pay such taxes separately from any such parent entity;

 

(c)                                  customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to officers and employees of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent such salaries, bonuses and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(d)                                 general corporate operating and overhead costs and expenses of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent such costs and expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(e)                                  fees and expenses other than to Affiliates of the Issuer related to any unsuccessful equity or debt offering of such parent entity; and

 

(16)                            the redemption for cash of a portion of each Senior Subordinated Note then outstanding equal to any “Mandatory Principal Redemption Amount” applicable thereto, to the extent required under the Senior Subordinated Indenture. The “Mandatory Principal Redemption Amount” means, as of the date of such redemption, the excess, if any, of (a) the aggregate amount of accrued and unpaid interest and all accrued and unpaid “original issue discount” (as defined in Section 1273(a)(1) of the Code) with respect to the Senior Subordinated Notes, over (b) an amount equal to the product of (i) the “issue price” (as defined in Sections 1273(b) and 1274(a) of the Code) of the Senior Subordinated Notes multiplied by (ii) the “yield to maturity” (as defined in the Treasury Regulation Section 1.1272-1(b)(1)(i)) of the Senior Subordinated Notes;

 

provided, however, that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clause (11), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

 

As of the Issue Date, all of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries will be Restricted Subsidiaries. The Issuer will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the last sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investment.” Such designation will be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time, whether pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant or under clause (7), (10) or (11) of the second paragraph of this covenant, or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments,” and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants set forth in the Senior Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this covenant, the Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, pay any cash dividend or make any cash distribution on or in respect of the Issuer’s Capital Stock or purchase for cash or otherwise acquire for cash any Capital Stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, for the purpose of paying any cash dividend or making any cash distribution to, or acquiring Capital Stock of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer for cash from, the Investors, or Guarantee any Indebtedness of any Affiliate of the Issuer for the purpose of paying such dividend, making such distribution or so acquiring such Capital Stock to or from the Investors, in each case by means of utilization of the cumulative Restricted Payment credit provided by the first paragraph of this covenant, or the exceptions provided by clauses (1), (7) or (11) of the second paragraph of this covenant or clauses (8) or (13) of the definition of “Permitted Investments,” unless at the time and after giving effect to such payment, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Issuer would be equal to or less than 6.00:1.00.

 

Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock

 

The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise (collectively, “incur” and collectively, an “incurrence”) with respect to any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), and the Issuer will not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the Issuer may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock and issue shares of Preferred Stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the

 

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Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period; provided, further, that Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors may not incur Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock if, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or issuance (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), more than an aggregate of $250.0 million of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors would be outstanding pursuant to this paragraph and clauses (13)(b), (15) and (20) below at such time.

 

The foregoing limitations will not apply to:

 

(1)                                  the incurrence of Indebtedness under (x) Credit Facilities (other than the ABL Facility) by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof), up to an aggregate principal amount of $2,625.0 million outstanding at any one time and (y) the ABL Facility by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof), up to an aggregate principal amount equal to the ABL Facility Cap;

 

(2)                                  the incurrence by the Issuer and any Guarantor of Indebtedness represented by the Senior Notes issued on the Issue Date (including any Guarantee hereof) and the Senior Exchange Notes and related guarantees of the Senior Exchange Notes to be issued in exchange for the Senior Notes and the Guarantees pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (other than any Additional Senior Notes and related guarantees);

 

(3)                                  the incurrence by the Issuer and any Guarantor of Indebtedness represented by the Senior Subordinated Notes and related guarantees, as well as any exchange notes and exchange guarantees to be issued in exchange for the Senior Subordinated Notes and related guarantees pursuant a registration rights agreement;

 

(4)                                  Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of this paragraph);

 

(5)                                  Indebtedness consisting of Capitalized Lease Obligations and Purchase Money Obligations in a principal amount not to exceed $250.0 million (excluding the principal amount of any Capitalized Lease Obligations or Purchase Money Obligations relating to the purchase, lease or improvement of the Company’s distribution centers located in Fulton, Missouri, Indianola, Mississippi and Ardmore, Oklahoma) in the aggregate at any one time outstanding together with all other Indebtedness issued under this clause (5); so long as such Indebtedness exists at the date of such purchase, lease or improvement, or is created within 270 days thereafter;

 

(6)                                  Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business, including letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation or employee health claims, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers’ compensation, or employee health claims; provided, however, that upon the drawing of such letters of credit or the incurrence of such Indebtedness, such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing or incurrence;

 

(7)                                  Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or a Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition; provided, however, that such Indebtedness is not reflected on the balance sheet of the Issuer, or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (contingent obligations referred to in a footnote to financial statements and not otherwise reflected on the balance sheet will not be deemed to be reflected on such balance sheet for purposes of this clause (7));

 

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(8)                                  Indebtedness of the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Senior Notes; provided, further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (8);

 

(9)                                  Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if a Guarantor issues such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor (other than to any Restricted Subsidiary engaged in the insurance business in order to provide insurance to the Issuer and its Subsidiaries), such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of the Senior Notes of such Guarantor; provided, further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (9);

 

(10)                            shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Issuer or another of its Restricted Subsidiaries) shall be deemed in each case to be an issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock not permitted by this clause (10);

 

(11)                            Hedging Obligations (excluding Hedging Obligations entered into for speculative purposes) for the purpose of limiting interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock,” exchange rate risk or commodity pricing risk;

 

(12)                            obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(13)                            (a) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary equal to 100.0% of the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer since immediately after the Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer or cash contributed to the capital of the Issuer (in each case, other than Excluded Contributions or proceeds of Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) as determined in accordance with clauses (3)(b) and (3)(c) of the first paragraph of “—Limitation on Restricted Payments” to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have not been applied pursuant to such clauses to make Restricted Payments or to make other Investments, payments or exchanges pursuant to the second paragraph of “—Limitation on Restricted Payments” or to make Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments specified in clauses (1) and (3) of the definition thereof) and (b) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of Issuer and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, which when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (13)(b), does not at any one time outstanding exceed $250.0 million; provided, however that on a pro forma basis, together with any amounts incurred and outstanding by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors pursuant to the second proviso to the first paragraph of this covenant and clauses (15) and (20), no more than $250.0 million of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock at any one time outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (13)(b) shall be incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors (it being understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (13)(b) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (13)(b) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of the first paragraph of this covenant from and after the first date on which the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under the first paragraph of this covenant without reliance on this clause (13)(b));

 

(14)                            the incurrence or issuance by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock which serves to refund or refinance any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred

 

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Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred as permitted under the first paragraph of this covenant and clauses (2), (3), (4), (5) and (13)(a) above, this clause (14) and clause (15) below or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary issued to so refund or refinance such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary including additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay premiums (including reasonable tender premiums), defeasance costs and fees in connection therewith (the “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided, however, that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

 

(a)                                  has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refunded or refinanced,

 

(b)                                 to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (i) Indebtedness subordinated or pari passu to the Senior Notes or any Guarantee thereof, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated or pari passu to the Senior Notes or the Guarantee at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being refinanced or refunded or (ii) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, respectively, and

 

(c)                                  shall not include Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or a Guarantor;

 

and provided further that subclause (a) of this clause (14) will not apply to any refunding or refinancing of any Indebtedness outstanding under a Credit Facility;

 

(15)                            Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of (x) the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance an acquisition of any Person or assets or (y) Persons that are acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of the Senior Indenture; provided that after giving effect to such acquisition or merger, either:

 

(a)                                  the Issuer would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first sentence of this covenant, or

 

(b)                                 the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries is greater than immediately prior to such acquisition or merger;

 

provided, however that on a pro forma basis, together with amounts incurred and outstanding pursuant to the second proviso to the first paragraph of this covenant and clauses (13)(b) and (20), no more than $250.0 million of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock at any one time outstanding and incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors pursuant to this clause (15) shall be incurred and outstanding;

 

(16)                            Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within two Business Days of its incurrence;

 

(17)                            Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries supported by a letter of credit issued pursuant to any Credit Facilities, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

 

(18)                            (a) any guarantee by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other Obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary, so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of the Senior Indenture, or (b) any guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Issuer permitted to be incurred under the terms of the Senior Indenture; provided that such guarantee is incurred in accordance with the covenant described below under “—Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries”;

 

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(19)         Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries of the Issuer in an amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding and together with any other Indebtedness incurred under this clause (19) 5.0% of the Total Assets of the Foreign Subsidiaries (it being understood that any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (19) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (19) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of the first paragraph of this covenant from and after the first date on which the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiaries could have incurred such Indebtedness under the first paragraph of this covenant without reliance on this clause (19));

 

(20)         Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance or assumed in connection with an acquisition in a principal amount not to exceed $100.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding together with all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and/or Preferred Stock issued under this clause (20) (it being understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (20) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (20) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of the first paragraph of this covenant from and after the first date on which such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under the first paragraph of this covenant without reliance on this clause (20)); provided, however, that, on a pro forma basis, together with amounts incurred and outstanding by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors pursuant to the second proviso to the first paragraph of this covenant and clauses (13)(b) and (15), no more than $250.0 million of Indebtedness would be incurred and outstanding by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors;

 

(21)         Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(22)         Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to current or former officers, directors and employees thereof, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent described in clause (4) of the second paragraph under the caption “—Limitation on Restricted Payments.”

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant:

 

(1)           in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in clauses (1) through (22) above or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Issuer, in its sole discretion, will classify or reclassify such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in one of the above clauses; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Facilities on the Issue Date will be treated as incurred on the Issue Date under clause (1) of the preceding paragraph; and

 

(2)           at the time of incurrence, the Issuer will be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in the first and second paragraphs above.

 

Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this covenant.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been

 

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exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced.

 

The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

 

The Senior Indenture provides that the Issuer will not, and will not permit any Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) that is subordinated or junior in right of payment to any Indebtedness of the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Senior Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee to the extent and in the same manner as such Indebtedness is subordinated to other Indebtedness of the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be; provided that this sentence shall not apply to Indebtedness incurred under clause (1) of the second paragraph of this covenant.

 

The Senior Indenture will not treat (1) unsecured Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured or (2) Senior Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to any other Senior Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral.

 

Liens

 

The Issuer will not, and will not permit any Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (except Permitted Liens) that secures obligations under any Indebtedness or any related Guarantee, on any asset or property of the Issuer or any Guarantor now owned or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits therefrom, or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, unless:

 

(1)           in the case of Liens securing Subordinated Indebtedness, the Senior Notes and related Guarantees are secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to such Liens; or

 

(2)           in all other cases, the Senior Notes or the Guarantees are equally and ratably secured or are secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to such Liens;

 

except that the foregoing shall not apply to (a) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Credit Facilities, including any letter of credit relating thereto, that was permitted by the terms of the Senior Indenture to be incurred pursuant to clause (1) of the second paragraph under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” and (b) Liens incurred to secure Obligations in respect of any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to the covenant described above under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”; provided that, with respect to Liens securing Obligations permitted under this subclause (b), at the time of incurrence and after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio would be no greater than 3.25 to 1.0. Any Lien which is granted to secure the Senior Notes under this covenant shall be discharged at the same time as the discharge of the Lien (other than through the exercise of remedies with respect thereto) that gave rise to the obligation to so secure the Senior Notes.

 

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets

 

The Issuer may not consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Issuer is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

 

(1)           the Issuer is the surviving corporation or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of

 

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organization of the Issuer or the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Company”);

 

(2)           the Successor Company, if other than the Issuer, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Issuer under the Senior Notes and the Senior Indenture pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

 

(3)           immediately after such transaction, no Default exists;

 

(4)           immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions, as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period,

 

(a)           the Successor Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first sentence of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock,” or

 

(b)           the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Company, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;

 

(5)           each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, in which case clause (b) of the second succeeding paragraph shall apply, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under the Senior Indenture, the Senior Notes and the Registration Rights Agreement; and

 

(6)           the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with the Senior Indenture.

 

The Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for the Issuer, as the case may be, under the Senior Indenture, the Guarantees and the Senior Notes, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (3) and (4),

 

(1)           any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with or merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Issuer, and

 

(2)           the Issuer may merge with an Affiliate of the Issuer, as the case may be, solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Issuer in a State of the United States or any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.

 

Subject to certain limitations described in the Senior Indenture governing release of a Guarantee upon the sale, disposition or transfer of a Guarantor, no Guarantor will, and the Issuer will not permit any Guarantor to, consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Issuer or Guarantor is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

 

(1)           (a) such Guarantor is the surviving corporation or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability corporation or trust organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor, as the case may be, or the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Person”);

 

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(b)           the Successor Person, if other than such Guarantor, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under the Senior Indenture and such Guarantor’s related Guarantee pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

 

(c)           immediately after such transaction, no Default exists; and

 

(d)           the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with the Senior Indenture; or

 

(2)           the transaction is made in compliance with the covenant described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales.”

 

Subject to certain limitations described in the Senior Indenture, the Successor Person will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Guarantor under the Senior Indenture and such Guarantor’s Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Guarantor may (i) merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to another Guarantor or the Issuer, (ii) merge with an Affiliate of the Issuer solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Guarantor in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof or (iii) convert into a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability corporation or trust organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor.

 

Transactions with Affiliates

 

The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Issuer (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $15.0 million, unless:

 

(1)           such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or its relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person on an arm’s-length basis; and

 

(2)           the Issuer delivers to the Trustee with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $25.0 million, a resolution adopted by the majority of the board of directors of the Issuer approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (1) above.

 

The foregoing provisions will not apply to the following:

 

(1)           transactions between or among the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(2)           Restricted Payments permitted by the provisions of the Senior Indenture described above under the covenant “—Limitation on Restricted Payments” and the definition of “Permitted Investments”;

 

(3)           the payment of management, consulting, monitoring and advisory fees and related expenses to the Investors pursuant to the Sponsor Management Agreement (plus any unpaid management, consulting, monitoring and advisory fees and related expenses accrued in any prior year) and the termination fees pursuant to the Sponsor Management Agreement, in each case as in effect on the Issue Date, or any amendment thereto (so long as any such amendment is not disadvantageous in the good faith judgment of the board of directors of the Issuer to the Holders when taken as a whole as compared to the Sponsor Management Agreement in effect on the Issue Date);

 

(4)           the payment of reasonable and customary fees paid to, and indemnities provided for the benefit of, officers, directors, employees or consultants of Issuer, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(5)           transactions in which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or stating that the terms are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or its relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person on an arm’s-length basis;

 

(6)           any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date, or any amendment thereto (so long as any such amendment is not disadvantageous to the Holders when taken as a whole as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the Issue Date in the reasonable determination of the Issuer);

 

(7)           the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, any stockholders agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Issue Date and any similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter; provided, however, that the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations under any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this clause (7) to the extent that the terms of any such amendment or new agreement are not otherwise disadvantageous to the Holders when taken as a whole in the reasonable determination of the Issuer;

 

(8)           the Transactions and the payment of all fees and expenses related to the Transactions, in each case as disclosed in the offering documentation relating to the outstanding notes;

 

(9)           transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of the Senior Indenture which are fair to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the board of directors of the Issuer or the senior management thereof, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

 

(10)         the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer to any Permitted Holder or to any director, officer, employee or consultant;

 

(11)         sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, in connection with the ABL Facility and any Receivables Facility;

 

(12)         payments by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to any of the Investors made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including, without limitation, in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, which payments are approved by a majority of the board of directors of the Issuer in good faith;

 

(13)         payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to employees or consultants of the Issuer, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and employment agreements, stock option plans and other similar arrangements with such employees or consultants which, in each case, are approved by the Issuer in good faith;

 

(14)         investments by the Investors in securities of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so long as (i) the investment is being offered generally to other investors on the same or more favorable terms and (ii) the investment constitutes less than 5.0% of the proposed or outstanding issue amount of such class of securities;

 

(15)         payments to or from, and transactions with, any joint ventures in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(16)         payments by the Issuer (and any direct or indirect parent thereof) and its Subsidiaries pursuant to tax sharing agreements among the Issuer (and any such parent) and its Subsidiaries on customary terms to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries; provided that in each case the amount of such payments in any fiscal year does not exceed the amount that the Issuer, its Restricted Subsidiaries and its

 

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Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent of amounts received from Unrestricted Subsidiaries) would be required to pay in respect of foreign, federal, state and local taxes for such fiscal year were the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (to the extent described above) to pay such taxes separately from any such parent entity.

 

Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries

 

The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary to:

 

(1)           (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or

 

(b)           pay any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(2)           make loans or advances to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

 

(3)           sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,

 

except (in each case) for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

 

(a)           contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including pursuant to the Senior Credit Facilities and the related documentation;

 

(b)           the Senior Indenture, the Senior Notes, the Senior Subordinated Indenture and the Senior Subordinated Notes;

 

(c)           purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in clause (3) above on the property so acquired;

 

(d)           applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

 

(e)           any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in connection therewith or in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired;

 

(f)            contracts for the sale of assets, including customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary of the Issuer pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary;

 

(g)           Secured Indebtedness that limits the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness that is otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to the covenants described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” and “—Liens”;

 

(h)           restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(i)            other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to the provisions of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”;

 

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(j)            customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other agreements or arrangements relating solely to such joint venture;

 

(k)           customary provisions contained in leases or licenses of intellectual property and other agreements, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(l)            any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (3) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (a) through (k) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, no more restrictive with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions taken as a whole than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing; and

 

(m)          restrictions created in connection with any Receivables Facility that, in the good faith determination of the Issuer, are necessary or advisable to effect the transactions contemplated under such Receivables Facility.

 

Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries

 

The Issuer will not permit any of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries (and non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries if such non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries guarantee other capital markets debt securities of the Issuer or any Guarantor), other than a Guarantor, a Foreign Subsidiary or a Receivables Subsidiary, to guarantee the payment of any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any other Guarantor unless:

 

(1)           such Restricted Subsidiary within 30 days executes and delivers a supplemental indenture to the Senior Indenture providing for a Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary, except that with respect to a guarantee of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor:

 

(a)           if the Senior Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee are subordinated in right of payment to such Indebtedness, the Guarantee under the supplemental indenture shall be subordinated to such Restricted Subsidiary’s guarantee with respect to such Indebtedness substantially to the same extent as the Senior Notes are subordinated to such Indebtedness; and

 

(b)           if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Senior Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee, any such guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Guarantee substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Senior Notes; and

 

(2)           such Restricted Subsidiary waives, and will not in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any rights of reimbursement, indemnity or subrogation or any other rights against the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary as a result of any payment by such Restricted Subsidiary under its Guarantee;

 

provided that this covenant shall not be applicable to (i) any guarantee of any Restricted Subsidiary that existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary and was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) guarantees of any Receivables Facility by any Receivables Subsidiary.

 

Reports and Other Information

 

Notwithstanding that the Issuer may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, the Senior Indenture will require the

 

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Issuer to file with the SEC (and make available to the Trustee and Holders (without exhibits), without cost to any Holder, within 15 days after it files with the SEC) from and after the Issue Date,

 

(1)           within 90 days (or any other time period then in effect under the rules and regulations of the Exchange Act with respect to the filing of a Form 10-K by a non-accelerated filer) after the end of each fiscal year, annual reports on Form 10-K, or any successor or comparable form, containing the information required to be contained therein, or required in such successor or comparable form;

 

(2)           within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, reports on Form 10-Q containing all information that would be required to be contained in Form 10-Q, or any successor or comparable form;

 

(3)           promptly from time to time after the occurrence of an event required to be therein reported, such other reports on Form 8-K, or any successor or comparable form; and

 

(4)           any other information, documents and other reports which the Issuer would be required to file with the SEC if it were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

 

in each case in a manner that complies in all material respects with the requirements specified in such form; provided that the Issuer shall not be so obligated to file such reports with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing, in which event the Issuer will make available such information to prospective purchasers of Senior Notes, in addition to providing such information to the Trustee and the Holders, in each case within 15 days after the time the Issuer would be required to file such information with the SEC if it were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. In addition, to the extent not satisfied by the foregoing, the Issuer will agree that, for so long as any Senior Notes are outstanding, it will furnish to Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

In the event that any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer becomes a Guarantor of the Senior Notes, the Senior Indenture will permit the Issuer to satisfy its obligations in this covenant with respect to financial information relating to the Issuer by furnishing financial information relating to such parent; provided that the same is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such parent, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, such requirements shall be deemed satisfied prior to the commencement of the exchange offer or the effectiveness of the shelf registration statement described in the Registration Rights Agreement (1) by the filing with the SEC of the exchange offer registration statement or shelf registration statement (or any other similar registration statement), and any amendments thereto, with such financial information that satisfies Regulation S-X, subject to exceptions consistent with the presentation of financial information in the offering documentation relating to the outstanding notes, to the extent filed within the times specified above, or (2) by posting reports that would be required to be filed substantially in the form required by the SEC on the Issuer’s website (or that of any of its parent companies) or providing such reports to the Trustee within 15 days after the time the Issuer would be required to file such information with the SEC if it were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the financial information (including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section) that would be required to be included in such reports, subject to exceptions consistent with the presentation of financial information in the offering documentation relating to the outstanding notes, to the extent filed within the times specified above. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Issuer will not be deemed to have failed to comply with any of its agreements set forth under this covenant for purposes of clause (3) under “Events of Default and Remedies” until 120 days after the date any report is required to be filed with the SEC (or posted on the Issuer’s website or provided to the Trustee) pursuant to this covenant.

 

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Events of Default and Remedies

 

The Senior Indenture provides that each of the following is an “Event of Default”:

 

(1)           default in payment when due and payable, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Senior Notes;

 

(2)           default for 30 days or more in the payment when due of interest or Special Interest on or with respect to the Senior Notes;

 

(3)           failure by the Issuer or any Guarantor for 60 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less 30% in principal amount of the Senior Notes then outstanding under the Senior Indenture to comply with any of its obligations, covenants or agreements (other than a default referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above) contained in the Senior Indenture or the Senior Notes;

 

(4)           default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the issuance of the Senior Notes, if both:

 

(a)           such default either results from the failure to pay any principal of such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or relates to an obligation other than the obligation to pay principal of any such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity and results in the holder or holders of such Indebtedness causing such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; and

 

(b)           the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregate $50.0 million or more at any one time outstanding;

 

(5)           failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $50.0 million, which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than 60 days after such judgment becomes final, and in the event such judgment is covered by insurance, an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed;

 

(6)           certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary); or

 

(7)           the Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary (or group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect or be declared null and void or any responsible officer (or the responsible officers of any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary, as the case may be, denies that it has any further liability under its Guarantee or gives notice to such effect, other than by reason of the termination of the Senior Indenture or the release of any such Guarantee in accordance with the Senior Indenture.

 

If any Event of Default (other than of a type specified in clause (6) above) occurs and is continuing under the Senior Indenture, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the Senior Notes then outstanding under the Senior Indenture may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the Senior Notes then outstanding under the Senior Indenture to be due and payable immediately.

 

Upon the effectiveness of such declaration, such principal premium, if any, and interest will be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under clause (6) of

 

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the first paragraph of this section, all outstanding Senior Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. The Senior Indenture provides that the Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default, except a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. In addition, the Trustee shall have no obligation to accelerate the Senior Notes if in the best judgment of the Trustee acceleration is not in the best interest of the Holders.

 

The Senior Indenture provides that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes then outstanding under the Senior Indenture by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Senior Notes waive any existing Default and its consequences under the Senior Indenture except a continuing Default in the payment of interest on, premium, if any, or the principal of any Senior Note held by a non-consenting Holder. In the event of any Event of Default specified in clause (4) above, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default, other than as a result of acceleration of the Senior Notes) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose:

 

(1)           the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged;

 

(2)           the Holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default; or

 

(3)           the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Senior Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee thereunder, in case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Senior Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless the Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any loss, liability or expense. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest when due, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to the Senior Indenture or the Senior Notes unless:

 

(1)           such Holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

 

(2)           Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the then outstanding Senior Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

(3)           Holders have offered the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense;

 

(4)           the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt thereof and the offer of security or indemnity; and

 

(5)           Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Senior Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

 

Subject to certain restrictions, under the Senior Indenture the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the total outstanding Senior Notes are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Senior Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would subject the Trustee to personal liability.

 

The Senior Indenture provides that the Issuer is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Senior Indenture, and the Issuer is required, within five Business Days upon becoming aware of any Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default.

 

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No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Shareholders

 

No director, officer, employee, incorporator or shareholder of the Issuer or any Guarantor or any of their parent companies (other than the Issuer and the Guarantors) shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantors under the Senior Notes, the Guarantees or the Senior Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting the Senior Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Senior Notes. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

 

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

The obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors under the Senior Indenture will terminate (other than certain obligations) and will be released upon payment in full of all of the Senior Notes issued under the Senior Indenture. The Issuer may, at its option and at any time, elect to have all of its obligations discharged with respect to the Senior Notes issued under the Senior Indenture and have the Issuer’s and each Guarantor’s obligation discharged with respect to its Guarantee (“Legal Defeasance”) and cure all then existing Events of Default except for:

 

(1)           the rights of Holders of Senior Notes issued under the Senior Indenture to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Senior Notes when such payments are due solely out of the trust created pursuant to the Senior Indenture;

 

(2)           the Issuer’s obligations with respect to Senior Notes concerning issuing temporary notes, registration of such Senior Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Senior Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

 

(3)           the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Issuer’s obligations in connection therewith; and

 

(4)           the Legal Defeasance provisions of the Senior Indenture.

 

In addition, the Issuer may, at its option and at any time, elect to have its obligations and those of each Guarantor released with respect to certain covenants that are described in the Senior Indenture (“Covenant Defeasance”) and thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute a Default with respect to the Senior Notes. In the event Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including bankruptcy, receivership, rehabilitation and insolvency events pertaining to the Issuer) described under “Events of Default and Remedies” will no longer constitute an Event of Default with respect to the Senior Notes.

 

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Senior Notes:

 

(1)           the Issuer must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest due on the Senior Notes issued under the Senior Indenture on the stated maturity date or on the redemption date, as the case may be, of such principal, premium, if any, or interest on such Senior Notes, and the Issuer must specify whether such Senior Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date;

 

(2)           in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions,

 

(a)           the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or

 

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(b)           since the original issuance of the Senior Notes, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,

 

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as applicable, as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(3)           in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to such tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(4)           no Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

 

(5)           such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Senior Credit Facilities, the Senior Subordinated Indenture, the Senior Subordinated Notes or any other material agreement or instrument (other than the Senior Indenture) to which the Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuer or any Guarantor is bound (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

 

(6)           the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and subject to customary assumptions and exclusions following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of Section 547 of Title 11 of the United States Code;

 

(7)           the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Issuer or any Guarantor or others; and

 

(8)           the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.

 

Satisfaction and Discharge

 

The Senior Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Senior Notes issued thereunder, when either:

 

(1)           all Senior Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered, except lost, stolen or destroyed Senior Notes which have been replaced or paid and Senior Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(2)           (a) all Senior Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise, will become due and payable within one year or may be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer, and the Issuer or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities, or a

 

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combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Senior Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption;

 

(b)           no Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) with respect to the Senior Indenture or the Senior Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit, and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Senior Credit Facilities, the Senior Subordinated Indenture, the Senior Subordinated Notes or any other material agreement or instrument (other than the Senior Indenture) to which the Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuer or any Guarantor is bound (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

 

(c)           the Issuer has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under the Senior Indenture; and

 

(d)           the Issuer has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Senior Notes at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.

 

In addition, the Issuer must deliver an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

 

Amendment, Supplement and Waiver

 

Except as provided in the next two succeeding paragraphs, the Senior Indenture, any Guarantee, and the Senior Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Senior Notes then outstanding, including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Senior Notes, and any existing Default or compliance with any provision of the Senior Indenture, the Senior Notes issued thereunder, any Guarantee may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Senior Notes, other than Senior Notes beneficially owned by the Issuer or its Affiliates (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of or tender offer or exchange offer for the Senior Notes).

 

The Senior Indenture provides that, without the consent of each affected Holder, an amendment or waiver may not, with respect to any Senior Notes held by a non-consenting Holder:

 

(1)           reduce the principal amount of such Senior Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

(2)           reduce the principal of or change the fixed final maturity of any such Senior Note or alter or waive the provisions with respect to the redemption of such Senior Notes (other than provisions relating to the covenants described above under the caption “Repurchase at the Option of Holders”);

 

(3)           reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Senior Note;

 

(4)           waive a Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Senior Notes, except a rescission of acceleration of the Senior Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration, or in respect of a covenant or provision contained in the Senior Indenture or any Guarantee which cannot be amended or modified without the consent of all Holders;

 

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(5)           make any Senior Note payable in money other than that stated therein;

 

(6)           make any change in the provisions of the Senior Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Senior Notes;

 

(7)           make any change in these amendment and waiver provisions;

 

(8)           impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, or interest on such Holder’s Senior Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Senior Notes;

 

(9)           make any change to or modify the ranking of the Senior Notes that would adversely affect the Holders; or

 

(10)         except as expressly permitted by the Senior Indenture, modify the Guarantees of any Significant Subsidiary in any manner adverse to the Holders.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer, any Guarantor (with respect to a Guarantee or the Senior Indenture to which it is a party) and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Senior Indenture, any Guarantee or Notes without the consent of any Holder;

 

(1)           to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;

 

(2)           to provide for uncertificated Senior Notes of such series in addition to or in place of certificated Senior Notes;

 

(3)           to comply with the covenant relating to mergers, consolidations and sales of assets;

 

(4)           to provide for the assumption of the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders;

 

(5)           to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Senior Indenture of any such Holder;

 

(6)           to add covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer or any Guarantor;

 

(7)           to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Senior Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(8)           to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under the Senior Indenture of a successor Trustee thereunder pursuant to the requirements thereof;

 

(9)           to provide for the issuance of Senior Exchange Notes or private exchange notes, which are identical to Senior Exchange Notes except that they are not freely transferable;

 

(10)         to add a Guarantor under the Senior Indenture;

 

(11)         to conform the text of the Senior Indenture, Guarantees or the Senior Notes to any provision of this “Description of Senior Notes” to the extent that such provision in this “Description of Senior Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Senior Indenture, Guarantee or Senior Notes; or

 

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(12)         to make any amendment to the provisions of the Senior Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Senior Notes as permitted by the Senior Indenture, including, without limitation, to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Senior Notes; provided, however, that (i) compliance with the Senior Indenture as so amended would not result in Senior Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (ii) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Senior Notes.

 

The consent of the Holders will not be necessary under the Senior Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment.

 

Notices

 

Notices given by publication will be deemed given on the first date on which publication is made and notices given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, will be deemed given five calendar days after mailing.

 

Concerning the Trustee

 

The Senior Indenture contains certain limitations on the rights of the Trustee thereunder, should it become a creditor of the Issuer, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The Trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue or resign.

 

The Senior Indenture provides that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee, subject to certain exceptions. The Senior Indenture provides that in case an Event of Default shall occur (which shall not be cured), the Trustee will be required, in the exercise of its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent person in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Senior Indenture at the request of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

 

Governing Law

 

The Senior Indenture, the Senior Notes and any Guarantee are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

Certain Definitions

 

Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the Senior Indenture. For purposes of the Senior Indenture, unless otherwise specifically indicated, the term “consolidated” with respect to any Person refers to such Person on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, but excluding from such consolidation any Unrestricted Subsidiary as if such Unrestricted Subsidiary were not an Affiliate of such Person.

 

ABL Facility” means the Asset-Based Revolving Credit Agreement to be entered into as of the Issue Date by and among the Issuer, the lenders party thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder and The CIT Group/Business Credit Inc., as Administrative Agent, including any guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, refundings or refinancings thereof and any indentures, notes, debentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that replace, refund or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount borrowable thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” above).

 

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ABL Facility Cap” means an amount equal to the greater of (x) $1,125.0 million and (y) the sum of (i) 85% of the net orderly liquidation value as determined in good faith by the Issuer of inventory of the Issuer and each Guarantor and (ii) 90% of all credit card receivables of the Issuer and each Guarantor determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

ABL Obligations” means Obligations under the ABL Facility.

 

ABL Secured Parties” means each of (i) the ABL Collateral Agent on behalf of itself and the lenders under the ABL Facility and lenders or their affiliates counterparty to related Hedging Obligations and (ii) each other holder of ABL Obligations.

 

Acquired Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person,

 

(1)           Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, including Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and

 

(2)           Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

 

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

 

Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any Senior Note on any Redemption Date, the greater of:

 

(1)           1.0% of the principal amount of such Senior Note; and

 

(2)           the excess, if any, of (a) the present value at such Redemption Date of (i) the redemption price of such Senior Note at July 15, 2011 (such redemption price being set forth in the tables appearing above under the captions “Optional Redemption”), plus (ii) all required interest payments due on such Senior Note through July 15, 2011 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points; over (b) the principal amount of such Senior Note.

 

Asset Sale” means:

 

(1)           the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of property or assets (including by way of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction) of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”); or

 

(2)           the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (other than Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries issued in compliance with the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”);

 

in each case, other than:

 

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(a)           any disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete or worn out equipment in the ordinary course of business or any disposition of inventory or goods (or other assets) held for sale in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)           the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer in a manner permitted pursuant to the provisions described above under “Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets” or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control pursuant to the Senior Indenture;

 

(c)           the making of any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under the covenant described above under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments”;

 

(d)           any disposition of assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in any transaction or series of related transactions with an aggregate fair market value of less than $25.0 million;

 

(e)           any disposition of property or assets or issuance of securities by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to the Issuer or by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to another Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

 

(f)            to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Code or any comparable or successor provision, any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Similar Business;

 

(g)           the lease, assignment or sub-lease of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business;

 

(h)           any issuance or sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

(i)            foreclosures on assets;

 

(j)            sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, in connection with the ABL Facility or any Receivables Facility;

 

(k)           any financing transaction with respect to property built or acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, including Sale and Lease-Back Transactions and asset securitizations permitted by the Senior Indenture;

 

(l)            dispositions in the ordinary course of business by any Restricted Subsidiary engaged in the insurance business in order to provide insurance to the Issuer and its Subsidiaries;

 

(m)          the unwinding of any Hedging Obligations; and

 

(n)           sales, transfers and other dispositions of Investments in joint ventures to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements between the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements.

 

Asset Sale Offer” has the meaning set forth in the fourth paragraph under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales.”

 

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended.

 

Bankruptcy Law” means the Bankruptcy Code and any similar federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors.

 

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Business Day” means each day which is not a Legal Holiday.

 

Capital Stock” means:

 

(1)           in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

 

(2)           in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

 

(3)           in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

 

(4)           any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

 

Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capitalized Software Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by a Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of purchased software or internally developed software and software enhancements that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be reflected as capitalized costs on the consolidated balance sheet of a Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Cash Equivalents” means:

 

(1)           United States dollars;

 

(2)           euro or any national currency of any participating member state of the EMU or such local currencies held by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

 

(3)           securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government (or any agency or instrumentality thereof the securities of which are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of the U.S. government) with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

 

(4)           certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $500.0 million in the case of U.S. banks and $100.0 million (or the U.S. dollar equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;

 

(5)           repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (3) and (4) entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;

 

(6)           commercial paper rated at least P-1 by Moody’s or at least A-1 by S&P and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof;

 

(7)           marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least P-2 or A-2 from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof;

 

(8)           investment funds investing 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (7) above;

 

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(9)           readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof having an Investment Grade Rating from either Moody’s or S&P with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

 

(10)         Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition; and

 

(11)         Investments with average maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated AAA- (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or Aaa3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Equivalents shall include amounts denominated in currencies other than those set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above; provided that such amounts are converted into any currency listed in clauses (1) and (2) as promptly as practicable and in any event within ten Business Days following the receipt of such amounts.

 

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(1)           the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than a Permitted Holder; or

 

(2)           the Issuer becomes aware (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) of the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act or any successor provision), other than the Permitted Holders, in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of 50% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies holding directly or indirectly 100% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor thereto.

 

Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense” means with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense, including the amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and Capitalized Software Expenditures, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, without duplication, the sum of:

 

(1)           consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income (including (a) amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par, (b) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances, (c) non-cash interest payments (but excluding any non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement in the mark to market valuation of Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP), (d) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, and (e) net payments, if any, pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations with respect to Indebtedness, and excluding (u) accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities not constituting Indebtedness, (v) any expense resulting from the discounting any Indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization accounting or, if applicable, purchase accounting, (w) any Special Interest and any comparable “additional interest” with respect to other securities, (x) amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, (y) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees and (z) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Receivables Facility); plus

 

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(2)           consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued; less

 

(3)           interest income for such period.

 

For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by such Person to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Leverage Ratio” as of any date of determination, means the ratio of (1) Consolidated Total Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal period for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such event for which such calculation is being made shall occur to (2) the Issuer’s EBITDA for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such event for which such calculation is being made shall occur, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Total Indebtedness and EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.”

 

Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person for such period, on a consolidated basis, and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that, without duplication,

 

(1)           any after-tax effect of extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) or expenses (including relating to the Transactions to the extent incurred on or prior to May 1, 2008), severance, relocation costs, consolidation and closing costs, integration and facilities opening costs, business optimization costs, transition costs, restructuring costs, signing, retention or completion bonuses, and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans shall be excluded,

 

(2)           the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period shall be excluded,

 

(3)           any after-tax effect of income (loss) from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations and any net after-tax gains or losses on disposal of disposed, abandoned, transferred, closed or discontinued operations shall be excluded,

 

(4)           any after-tax effect of gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) attributable to asset dispositions or abandonments other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined in good faith by the Issuer, shall be excluded,

 

(5)           the Net Income for such period of any Person that is an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be excluded, and, solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause 3(a) of the first paragraph of “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments,” the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be excluded; provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein,

 

(6)           solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3)(a) of the first paragraph of “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments,” the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Guarantor) shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination wholly permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule, or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived; provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or

 

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other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) or Cash Equivalents to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein,

 

(7)           effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries) in the property, equipment, inventory, software and other intangible assets, deferred revenue and debt line items in such Person’s consolidated financial statements pursuant to GAAP resulting from the application of recapitalization accounting or, if applicable, purchase accounting in relation to the Transactions or any consummated acquisition or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded,

 

(8)           any after-tax effect of income (loss) from the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments shall be excluded,

 

(9)           any impairment charge or asset write-off, including, without limitation, impairment charges or asset write-offs related to intangible assets, long-lived assets or investments in debt and equity securities, in each case, pursuant to GAAP and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP shall be excluded,

 

(10)         any non-cash compensation expense recorded from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights, and any cash charges associated with the rollover, acceleration or payout of Equity Interests by management of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies in connection with the Transactions, shall be excluded,

 

(11)         any fees and expenses incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, Investment, Asset Sale, issuance or repayment of Indebtedness, issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument (in each case, including any such transaction consummated prior to the Issue Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed) and any charges or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction shall be excluded,

 

(12)         accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted within twelve months after the Issue Date that are so required to be established as a result of the Transactions in accordance with GAAP, or changes as a result of adoption or modification of accounting policies, shall be excluded, and

 

(13)         to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Issuer has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is (a) not denied by the applicable carrier in writing within 180 days and (b) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (with a deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within 365 days), expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption shall be excluded.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments” only (other than clause (3)(d) thereof), there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any income arising from any sale or other disposition of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repurchases and redemptions of Restricted Investments from the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repayments of loans and advances which constitute Restricted Investments by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, any sale of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any distribution or dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case only to the extent such amounts increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under such covenant pursuant to clause (3)(d) thereof.

 

Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio” as of any date of determination, means the ratio of (1) Consolidated Total Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that is secured by Liens as of the end of the most recent fiscal period for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such event for which such calculation is being made shall occur to (2) the Issuer’s EBITDA for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such event for which such calculation is being made shall occur, in each case with such pro forma

 

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adjustments to Consolidated Total Indebtedness and EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.”

 

Consolidated Total Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of (1) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Obligations in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes and similar instruments (and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, all obligations relating to Receivables Facilities) and (2) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and all Preferred Stock of its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, with the amount of such Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock equal to the greater of their respective voluntary or involuntary liquidation preferences and maximum fixed repurchase prices, in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. For purposes hereof, the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock as if such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock were purchased on any date on which Consolidated Total Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to the Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market value of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such fair market value shall be determined reasonably and in good faith by the Issuer.

 

Contingent Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent,

 

(1)           to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor,

 

(2)           to advance or supply funds:

 

(a)           for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation, or

 

(b)           to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, or

 

(3)           to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

 

Credit Facilities” means, with respect to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more debt facilities, including the Senior Credit Facilities, or other financing arrangements (including, without limitation, commercial paper facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit or other long-term indebtedness, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof and any indentures, notes, debentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.

 

Default” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash

 

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Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, executed by the principal financial officer of the Issuer, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of or collection on such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

 

Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any parent corporation thereof (in each case other than Disqualified Stock) that is issued for cash (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate executed by the principal financial officer of the Issuer or the applicable parent corporation thereof, as the case may be, on the issuance date thereof, the cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of the first paragraph under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments.”

 

Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms, or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is putable or exchangeable, or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale), in whole or in part, in each case prior to the date 91 days after the earlier of the maturity date of the Senior Notes or the date the Senior Notes are no longer outstanding; provided, however, that if such Capital Stock is issued to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.

 

EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period

 

(1)           increased (without duplication) by:

 

(a)           provision for taxes based on income or profits or capital gains, including, without limitation, foreign, federal, state, franchise and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes (including penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from tax examinations) of such Person paid or accrued during such period deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income in such period; plus

 

(b)           Fixed Charges of such Person for such period (including (x) net losses on Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk and (y) costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, in each case, to the extent included in Fixed Charges), together with items excluded from the definition of “Consolidated Interest Expense” pursuant to clauses (1)(u), (v), (w), (x), (y) and (z) of the definition thereof, and, in each such case, to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in calculating such Consolidated Net Income in such period; plus

 

(c)           Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense of such Person for such period to the extent the same was deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income in such period; plus

 

(d)           any expenses or charges (other than depreciation or amortization expense) related to any Equity Offering, Permitted Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or the incurrence of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by the Senior Indenture (including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful), including (i) such fees, expenses or charges related to the offering of the Senior Notes and any Credit Facilities and (ii) any amendment or other modification of the Senior Notes, and, in each case, deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income in such period; plus

 

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(e)           the amount of any restructuring charge or reserve deducted (and not added back) in such period in computing Consolidated Net Income, including any one-time costs incurred in connection with acquisitions after the Issue Date and costs related to the closure and/or consolidation of facilities; plus

 

(f)            any other non-cash charges, including any write-offs or write-downs, reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period (provided that if any such non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period); plus

 

(g)           the amount of any minority interest expense consisting of income attributable to minority equity interests of third parties deducted (and not added back) in such period in calculating Consolidated Net Income in such period; plus

 

(h)           the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees and related expenses paid in such period to the Investors to the extent otherwise permitted under “Certain Covenants—Transactions with Affiliates”; plus

 

(i)            the amount of net cost savings projected by the Issuer in good faith to be realized as a result of specified actions taken or to be taken (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings had been realized on the first day of such period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided that (w) such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable, (x) such actions have been taken or are to be taken within 12 months after the date of determination to take such action, (y) no cost savings shall be added pursuant to this clause (i) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges relating to such cost savings that are included in clause (e) above with respect to such period and (z) the aggregate amount of cost savings added pursuant to this clause (i) shall not exceed $25.0 million for any four consecutive quarter period (which adjustments may be incremental to pro forma adjustments made pursuant to the second paragraph of the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”); plus

 

(j)            the amount of loss on sales of receivables and related assets to the Receivables Subsidiary in connection with a Receivables Facility; plus

 

(k)           an amount equal to the impact on cost of goods sold and operating profit of incremental markdowns taken as a result of Project Alpha as described in the offering documentation relating to the outstanding notes; provided that this clause (k) shall not apply to any quarterly period beginning after February 1, 2008; plus

 

(l)            any expenses associated with Project Alpha inventory and real estate initiatives as described in the offering documentation relating to the outstanding notes; provided that this clause (l) shall not apply to any quarterly period beginning after February 1, 2008; plus

 

(m)          any costs or expense incurred by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such cost or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Issuer or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) solely to the extent that such net cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of the first paragraph under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments”;

 

(2)           decreased by (without duplication) non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, excluding any non-cash gains to the extent they represent the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced EBITDA in any prior period; and

 

(3)           increased or decreased by (without duplication):

 

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(a)           any net gain or loss resulting in such period from Hedging Obligations and the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133; plus or minus, as applicable, and

 

(b)           any net gain or loss resulting in such period from currency translation gains or losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss or gain resulting from Hedging Obligations for currency exchange risk).

 

EMU” means the economic and monetary union as contemplated in the Treaty on European Union.

 

Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock, but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock.

 

Equity Offering” means any public or private sale of common stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies (excluding Disqualified Stock), other than:

 

(1)           public offerings with respect to the Issuer’s or any direct or indirect parent company’s common stock registered on Form S-8;

 

(2)           issuances to any Subsidiary of the Issuer; and

 

(3)           any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.

 

euro” means the single currency of participating member states of the EMU.

 

Event of Default” has the meaning set forth under “Events of Default and Remedies.”

 

Excess Proceeds” has the meaning set forth in the fourth paragraph under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales.”

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

Excluded Contribution” means net cash proceeds, marketable securities or Qualified Proceeds received by the Issuer after the Issue Date from

 

(1)           contributions to its common equity capital, and

 

(2)           the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Issuer) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Issuer,

 

in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate executed by the principal financial officer of the Issuer on the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Equity Interests are sold, as the case may be, which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of the first paragraph under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments.”

 

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced) or issues or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or

 

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redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred on the first day of the applicable four-quarter period.

 

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations and disposed operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP) that have been made by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations and disposed operations (and the change in any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If, since the beginning of such period, any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or disposed operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or disposed operation had occurred on the first day of the applicable four-quarter period.

 

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period except as set forth in the first paragraph of this definition. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate or other rate shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Issuer may designate.

 

Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of:

 

(1)           Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period;

 

(2)           all cash dividends or other distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock during such period; and

 

(3)           all cash dividends or other distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Disqualified Stock during such period.

 

Foreign Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person that is not organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and any Restricted Subsidiary of such Foreign Subsidiary.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States which are in effect on the Issue Date.

 

General Credit Facility” means the credit agreement to be entered into as of the Issue Date by and among the Issuer, the lenders party thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder and Citicorp North America, Inc., as Administrative Agent, including any guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, refundings or refinancings thereof and any indentures, notes, debentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that replace, refund or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing

 

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facility or indenture that increases the amount borrowable thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” above).

 

Government Securities” means securities that are:

 

(1)           direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged; or

 

(2)           obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America,

 

which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuers thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such Government Securities or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Securities held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Securities or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Securities evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.

 

Guarantee” means the guarantee by any Guarantor of the Issuer’s Obligations under the Senior Indenture.

 

Guarantor” means each Restricted Subsidiary that Guarantees the Senior Notes in accordance with the terms of the Senior Indenture.

 

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, commodity swap agreement, commodity cap agreement, commodity collar agreement, foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or similar agreement providing for the transfer or mitigation of interest rate or currency risks either generally or under specific contingencies.

 

Holder” means the Person in whose name a Senior Note is registered on the registrar’s books.

 

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication:

 

(1)           any indebtedness (including principal and premium) of such Person, whether or not contingent:

 

(a)           in respect of borrowed money;

 

(b)           evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

 

(c)           representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including Capitalized Lease Obligations), except (i) any such balance that constitutes a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor, in each case accrued in the ordinary course of business and (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP; or

 

(d)           representing any Hedging Obligations;

 

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if and to the extent that any of the foregoing Indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

 

(2)           to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise on, the obligations of the type referred to in clause (1) of a third Person (whether or not such items would appear upon the balance sheet of the such obligor or guarantor), other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(3)           to the extent not otherwise included, the obligations of the type referred to in clause (1) of a third Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such first Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such first Person;

 

provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (a) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or (b) obligations under or in respect of Receivables Facilities.

 

Independent Financial Advisor” means an accounting, appraisal, investment banking firm or consultant to Persons engaged in Similar Businesses of nationally recognized standing that is, in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.

 

Initial Purchasers” means Goldman, Sachs & Co., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc. and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC.

 

insolvency or liquidation proceeding” means:

 

(1)           any case commenced by or against the Issuer or any Guarantor under any Bankruptcy Law for the relief of debtors, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of the Issuer or any Guarantor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to the Issuer or any Guarantor or any similar case or proceeding relative to the Issuer or any Guarantor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

 

(2)           any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to the Issuer or any Guarantor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency; or

 

(3)           any other proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of the Issuer or any Guarantor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims.

 

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency.

 

Investment Grade Securities” means:

 

(1)           securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents);

 

(2)           debt securities or debt instruments with an Investment Grade Rating, but excluding any debt securities or instruments constituting loans or advances among the Issuer and its Subsidiaries;

 

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(3)           investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment or distribution; and

 

(4)           corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality investments.

 

Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit, advances to customers, commissions, travel and similar advances to officers and employees, in each case made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes) of the Issuer in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments”:

 

(1)           “Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Issuer’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Issuer at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Issuer shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to:

 

(a)           the Issuer’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; less

 

(b)           the portion (proportionate to the Issuer equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

 

(2)           any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its fair market value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Issuer.

 

Investors” means Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., GS Capital Partners VI Fund, L.P. and funds managed by Citigroup Private Equity LP, and each of their respective Affiliates but not including, however, any portfolio companies of any of the foregoing.

 

Issue Date” means July 6, 2007.

 

Issuer” has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph under “General”; provided that when used in the context of determining the fair market value of an asset or liability under the Senior Indenture other than in calculating the ABL Facility Cap, “Issuer” shall be deemed to mean the board of directors of the Issuer when the fair market value is equal to or in excess of $50.0 million (unless otherwise expressly stated).

 

Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York.

 

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien (statutory or otherwise), pledge, hypothecation, charge, security interest, preference, priority or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction; provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

 

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor to its rating agency business.

 

Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends.

 

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Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale, including any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale, net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions, any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on Senior Indebtedness required (other than required by clause (1) of the second paragraph of “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales”) to be paid as a result of such transaction and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.

 

Obligations” means any principal, interest (including any interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable state, federal or foreign law), premium, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances), damages and other liabilities, and guarantees of payment of such principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities, payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

 

Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Issuer.

 

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Issuer, that meets the requirements set forth in the Senior Indenture.

 

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer or the Trustee.

 

Permitted Asset Swap” means the concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of Related Business Assets or a combination of Related Business Assets and cash or Cash Equivalents between the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided, that any cash or Cash Equivalents received must be applied in accordance with the covenant described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales.”

 

Permitted Holders” means each of the Investors, members of management of the Issuer (or its direct or indirect parent) and any assignees of the equity commitments of the Investors on the Issue Date who are (or will be pursuant to the agreements referenced in “The Transactions” section included elsewhere in this prospectus) holders of Equity Interests of the Issuer (or any of its direct or indirect parent companies) and any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision) of which any of the foregoing are members; provided that, in the case of such group and without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, such Investors, members of management and assignees of the equity commitments of the Investors, collectively, have beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies.

 

Permitted Investments” means:

 

(1)           any Investment in the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(2)           any Investment in cash and Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

 

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(3)           any Investment by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Person that is engaged in a Similar Business if as a result of such Investment:

 

(a)           such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

(b)           such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary,

 

and, in each case, any Investment held by such Person; provided, that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, consolidation or transfer;

 

(4)           any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting cash, Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to the provisions described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales” or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

 

(5)           any Investment existing on the Issue Date;

 

(6)           any Investment acquired by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries:

 

(a)           in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable; or

 

(b)           as a result of a foreclosure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

 

(7)           Hedging Obligations permitted under clause (11) of the second paragraph of the covenant described in “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”;

 

(8)           any Investment in a Similar Business having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (8) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed $50.0 million at the time of such Investment (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

 

(9)           Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests (exclusive of Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies; provided, however, that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3) of the first paragraph under the covenant described in “Certain Covenants—Limitations on Restricted Payments”;

 

(10)         guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under the covenant described in “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”;

 

(11)         any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted and made in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Transactions with Affiliates” (except transactions described in clauses (2), (5) and (9) of such paragraph);

 

(12)         Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material or equipment;

 

(13)         additional Investments having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (13) that are at that time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or marketable securities), not to

 

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exceed $100.0 million at the time of such Investment (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

 

(14)         Investments relating to a Receivables Subsidiary that, in the good faith determination of the Issuer, are necessary or advisable to effect the ABL Facility or any Receivables Facility, as the case may be;

 

(15)         advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, employees not in excess of $10.0 million outstanding at any one time, in the aggregate;

 

(16)         loans and advances to officers, directors and employees for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses and other similar expenses, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices or to fund such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company thereof; and

 

(17)         Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material or equipment or the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons.

 

Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

 

(1)           pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(2)           Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

 

(3)           Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

 

(4)           Liens in favor of issuers of performance and surety bonds or bid bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of credit issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;

 

(5)           minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

 

(6)           Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clauses (1), (5), (13), (14), (19) or (20) of the second paragraph under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”; provided that (a) Liens securing Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (14) relate only to Refinancing Indebtedness that serves to refund or refinance Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred under clause (5) or (13) of the second paragraph under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock,” (b) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to

 

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clause (19) extend only to the assets of Foreign Subsidiaries, (c) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (20) are solely on acquired property or the assets of the acquired entity, as the case may be and (d) Liens securing Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (5) of the second paragraph under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” extend only to the assets so financed, purchased, constructed or improved;

 

(7)           Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than Liens in favor of the lenders under the Senior Credit Facilities);

 

(8)           Liens on property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided, however, such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided, further, however, that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(9)           Liens on property at the time the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided, further, however, that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(10)         Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred in accordance with the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”;

 

(11)         Liens securing Hedging Obligations so long as the related Indebtedness is, and is permitted to be under the Senior Indenture, secured by a Lien on the same property securing such Hedging Obligations;

 

(12)         Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

 

(13)         leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and do not secure any Indebtedness;

 

(14)         Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(15)         Liens in favor of the Issuer or any Guarantor;

 

(16)         Liens on equipment of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries granted in the ordinary course of business;

 

(17)         Liens on accounts receivable and related assets incurred in connection with a Receivables Facility;

 

(18)         Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancing, refunding, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (6), (7), (8) and (9); provided, however, that (a) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (b) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (6), (7), (8) and (9) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under the Senior Indenture, and (ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement;

 

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(19)         deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;

 

(20)         other Liens securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business which obligations do not exceed $20.0 million at any one time outstanding;

 

(21)         Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under clause (5) under the caption “Events of Default and Remedies” so long as such Liens are adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings that may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment have not been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated has not expired;

 

(22)         Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;

 

(23)         Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code, or any comparable or successor provision, on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) in favor of banking institutions arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

 

(24)         Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such repurchase agreements;

 

(25)         Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(26)         Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes; and

 

(27)         Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale or purchase of goods entered into by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business.

 

For purposes of this definition, the term “Indebtedness” shall be deemed to include interest on such Indebtedness.

 

Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

 

Plan of Reorganization” means any plan of reorganization, plan of liquidation, agreement for composition, or other type of plan of arrangement proposed in or in connection with any insolvency or liquidation proceeding.

 

Preferred Stock” means any Equity Interest with preferential rights of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

 

Purchase Money Obligations” means any Indebtedness incurred to finance or refinance the acquisition, leasing, construction or improvement of property (real or personal) or assets (other than Capital Stock), and whether acquired through the direct acquisition of such property or assets, or otherwise.

 

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Qualified Proceeds” means the fair value of assets that are used or useful in, or Capital Stock of any Person engaged in, a Similar Business; provided that the fair market value of any such assets or Capital Stock shall be determined by the Issuer in good faith.

 

Rating Agencies” means Moody’s and S&P or if Moody’s or S&P or both shall not make a rating on the Senior Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Issuer which shall be substituted for Moody’s or S&P or both, as the case may be.

 

Receivables Facility” means any of one or more receivables financing facilities as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated or refunded from time to time, the Obligations of which are non-recourse (except for customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities made in connection with such facilities) to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables Subsidiary) pursuant to which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries purports to sell its accounts receivable to either (a) a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or (b) a Receivables Subsidiary that in turn funds such purchase by purporting to sell its accounts receivable to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or by borrowing from such a Person or from another Receivables Subsidiary that in turn funds itself by borrowing from such a Person.

 

Receivables Fees” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any accounts receivable or participation interest therein issued or sold in connection with, and other fees paid to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any Receivables Facility.

 

Receivables Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary formed for the purpose of facilitating or entering into one or more Receivables Facilities, and in each case engages only in activities reasonably related or incidental thereto.

 

Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth under “Optional Redemption—Senior Notes.”

 

Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement related to the Senior Notes, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers.

 

Related Business Assets” means assets (other than cash or Cash Equivalents) used or useful in a Similar Business; provided that any assets received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for assets transferred by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary will not be deemed to be Related Business Assets if they consist of securities of a Person, unless upon receipt of the securities of such Person, such Person would become a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

 

Restricted Subsidiary” means, at any time, any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Issuer (including any Foreign Subsidiary) that is not then an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that upon an Unrestricted Subsidiary’s ceasing to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall be included in the definition of “Restricted Subsidiary.”

 

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.

 

Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means any arrangement providing for the leasing by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any real or tangible personal property, which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary to a third Person in contemplation of such leasing.

 

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries secured by a Lien.

 

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Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

Senior Credit Facilities” means the ABL Facility and the General Credit Facility.

 

Senior Exchange Notes” means any notes issued in exchange for the Senior Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement or similar agreement.

 

Senior Indebtedness” means:

 

(1)           all Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor outstanding under the Senior Credit Facilities or the Senior Notes and related Guarantees (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or similar proceeding or for reorganization of the Issuer or any Guarantor (at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, regardless of whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings)), and any and all other fees, expense reimbursement obligations, indemnification amounts, penalties, and other amounts (whether existing on the Issue Date or thereafter created or incurred) and all obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor to reimburse any bank or other Person in respect of amounts paid under letters of credit, acceptances or other similar instruments;

 

(2)           all Hedging Obligations (and guarantees thereof) owing to a Lender (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) or any Affiliate of such Lender (or any Person that was a Lender or an Affiliate of such Lender at the time the applicable agreement giving rise to such Hedging Obligation was entered into); provided that such Hedging Obligations are permitted to be incurred under the terms of the Senior Indenture;

 

(3)           any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor permitted to be incurred under the terms of the Senior Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is subordinated in right of payment to the Senior Notes or any related Guarantee; and

 

(4)           all Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (1), (2) and (3);

 

provided, however, that Senior Indebtedness shall not include:

 

(a)           any obligation of such Person to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(b)           any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by such Person;

 

(c)           any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d)           any Indebtedness or other Obligation of such Person which is subordinate or junior in any respect to any other Indebtedness or other Obligation of such Person; or

 

(e)           that portion of any Indebtedness which at the time of incurrence is incurred in violation of the Senior Indenture.

 

Senior Subordinated Indenture” means the Senior Subordinated Indenture dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuer, the Guarantors, as guarantors and the Trustee, as trustee, pursuant to which the Senior Subordinated Notes are issued.

 

Senior Subordinated Notes” means the $725,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 11.875%/12.625% Senior Subordinated Toggle Notes due 2017 issued by the Issuer under the Senior Subordinated Indenture on the Issue Date.

 

Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the Issue Date.

 

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Similar Business” means any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date or any business that is similar, reasonably related, incidental or ancillary thereto.

 

Special Interest” means all additional interest then owing pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Sponsor Management Agreement” means the management agreement between certain of the management companies associated with the Investors and the Issuer.

 

Subordinated Indebtedness” means, with respect to the Senior Notes,

 

(1)           any Indebtedness of the Issuer which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Senior Notes, and

 

(2)           any Indebtedness of any Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such entity of the Senior Notes.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person:

 

(1)           any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof or is consolidated under GAAP with such Person at such time; and

 

(2)           any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which

 

(x)            more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or otherwise, and

 

(y)           such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

 

Total Assets” means the total assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as shown on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer or such other Person as may be expressly stated.

 

Transactions” means the acquisition of all of the outstanding capital stock of Dollar General Corporation, including the payment of the acquisition consideration in connection therewith, the equity investment by the Investors and members of management, the issuance of the Senior Notes and the Senior Subordinated Notes, the tender offer and consent solicitation for any and all of the outstanding 85/8% Notes due 2010 of Dollar General Corporation and the execution of, and borrowings on the Issue Date under, the Senior Credit Facilities and, the pledge and security arrangements in connection with the foregoing, in each case as in effect on the Issue Date, and the related transactions described in this prospectus under the section thereof entitled “The Transactions.”

 

Treasury Rate” means, as of any Redemption Date, the yield to maturity as of such Redemption Date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to July 15, 2011; provided, however, that if the period from the Redemption Date to July 15, 2011 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

 

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Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C §§ 77aaa-777bbbb).

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

 

(1)           any Subsidiary of the Issuer which at the time of determination is an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by the Issuer, as provided below); and

 

(2)           any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

The Issuer may designate any Subsidiary of the Issuer (including any existing Subsidiary and any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of, the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than solely any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated); provided that:

 

(1)           any Unrestricted Subsidiary must be an entity of which the Equity Interests entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes that may be cast by all Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or Persons performing a similar function are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Issuer;

 

(2)           such designation complies with the covenants described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments”; and

 

(3)           each of:

 

(a)           the Subsidiary to be so designated; and

 

(b)           its Subsidiaries

 

has not at the time of designation, and does not thereafter, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

The Issuer may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and either:

 

(1)           the Issuer could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described in the first paragraph under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”; or

 

(2)           the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation.

 

The Issuer shall notify the Trustee of any such designation by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the board of directors of the Issuer or any committee thereof giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

 

Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the board of directors of such Person.

 

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing:

 

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(1)           the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment; by

 

(2)           the sum of all such payments.

 

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person, 100% of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES

 

General

 

Certain terms used in this description are defined under the subheading “Certain Definitions.”

 

Buck Acquisition Corp. issued $725,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 11.875%/12.625% senior subordinated toggle notes due 2017 (the “Senior Subordinated Notes”) under an indenture dated July 6, 2007 (the “Senior Subordinated Indenture”) among Buck Acquisition Corp., the Guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association (the successor trustee), as trustee (the “Successor Trustee”).  Immediately following the closing of the offering and as part of the Transactions, Buck Acquisition Corp. merged with and into Dollar General Corporation, with Dollar General Corporation continuing as the surviving corporation and assuming all the obligations of Buck Acquisition Corp. under the Senior Subordinated Indenture. In this description, the terms “we,” “our,” “us,” “the Issuer” and “the Company” refer to Buck Acquisition Corp. prior to the merger described above and to Dollar General Corporation as the surviving corporation in the merger, together with its consolidated Subsidiaries (except that “the Issuer” does not include consolidated subsidiaries). As of the date of this prospectus, $450,697,000 aggregate principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes remained outstanding.

 

Effective February 25, 2009 (the “Effective Date”), Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Prior Trustee”) resigned as Trustee under the Senior Subordinated Indenture.  The Company entered into an Instrument of Resignation, Appointment and Acceptance (the “Instrument of Resignation”), effective as of the Effective Date, with the Prior Trustee and the Successor Trustee.  The instrument of Resignation provides that, effective as of the Effective Date, (1) the Prior Trustee assigns, transfers, delivers and confirms to the Successor Trustee all of its rights, title, interest under the Senior Subordinated Indenture and all of its rights, title, interests, capacities, privileges, duties and responsibilities as Trustee under the Senior Subordinated Indenture; (2) the Company accepts the resignation of the Prior Trustee as Trustee under the Senior Subordinated Indenture and appoints the Successor Trustee as Trustee under the Senior Subordinated Indenture; and (3) the Successor Trustee accepts its appointment as successor Trustee, and shall be vested with all of the rights, title, interests, capacities, privileges, duties and responsibilities of the Trustee, under the Senior Subordinated Indenture. Nothing contained in the Instrument of Resignation shall in any way affect the Company’s obligations to the Prior Trustee under Section 7.07 of the Senior Subordinated Indenture or any lien created thereunder. In this description, the term “Trustee” refers to the Prior Trustee during the period prior to the Effective Date and to the Successor Trustee for the period commencing on the Effective Date.

 

The following description is only a summary of the material provisions of the Senior Subordinated Indenture, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of that agreement, including the definitions therein of certain terms used below. We urge you to read the Senior Subordinated Indenture because it, and not this description, will define your rights as Holders of Senior Subordinated Notes. You may request copies of the Senior Subordinated Indenture at our address set forth under the heading “Summary.”

 

Brief Description of the Senior Subordinated Notes

 

The Senior Subordinated Notes:

 

·                  are general unsecured senior subordinated obligations of the Issuer;

 

·                  are subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer, including Indebtedness under the Issuer’s Senior Credit Facilities and the Issuer’s Senior Notes;

 

·                  are pari passu in right of payment with all future unsecured Senior Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer;

 

·                  are effectively subordinated to all Secured Indebtedness of the Issuer, including Indebtedness under the Issuer’s Senior Credit Facilities, to the extent of the collateral securing such Indebtedness;

 

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·                  are senior in right of payment to all future Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer;

 

·                  are structurally subordinated to any existing and future indebtedness and liabilities of non-guarantor Subsidiaries, including the Issuer’s Foreign Subsidiaries and any Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

 

·                  are initially unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several and senior subordinated basis by each Restricted Subsidiary that guarantees the General Credit Facility; and

 

·                  are subject to registration with the SEC pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Guarantees

 

The Guarantors, as primary obligors and not merely as sureties, initially jointly and severally fully and unconditionally guarantee, on a senior subordinated basis, the performance and full and punctual payment when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all obligations of the Issuer under the Senior Subordinated Indenture and the Senior Subordinated Notes, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest or Special Interest in respect of the Senior Subordinated Notes, expenses, indemnification or otherwise, on the terms set forth in the Senior Subordinated Indenture by executing the Senior Subordinated Indenture.

 

The Restricted Subsidiaries which guarantee the General Credit Facility initially guarantee the Senior Subordinated Notes. Each Guarantee is a general unsecured senior subordinated obligation of the applicable Guarantor, is subordinated in right of payment to all existing and any future Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor, is pari passu in right of payment with any future Senior Subordinated Indebtedness of such Guarantor, is effectively subordinated to all Secured Indebtedness of such Guarantor to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such Indebtedness, and will rank senior in right of payment to any future Subordinated Indebtedness of such Guarantor. The Senior Subordinated Notes are structurally subordinated to Indebtedness and other liabilities of Subsidiaries of the Issuer that do not guarantee the Senior Subordinated Notes.

 

Not all of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries guarantee the Senior Subordinated Notes. In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of these non-Guarantor Subsidiaries, the non-Guarantor Subsidiaries will pay the holders of their debt and their trade creditors before they will be able to distribute any of their assets to the Issuer. None of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries which are Foreign Subsidiaries, non-Wholly Owned Subsidiaries or any Receivables Subsidiaries will guarantee the Senior Credit Facilities, the Senior Notes or the Senior Subordinated Notes. Our non-Guarantor Subsidiaries accounted for approximately $91.3 million of net revenues and approximately $33.0 million of net income, in each case, for 2009 and approximately $360.0 million of total assets and approximately $264.2 million of total liabilities, in each case, as of January 29, 2010.

 

The obligations of each Guarantor under its Guarantee will be limited as necessary to prevent the Guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law.

 

Any entity that makes a payment under its Guarantee will be entitled upon payment in full of all guaranteed obligations under the Senior Subordinated Indenture to a contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

If a Guarantee were rendered voidable, it could be subordinated by a court to all other indebtedness (including guarantees and other contingent liabilities) of the Guarantor, and, depending on the amount of such indebtedness, a Guarantor’s liability on its Guarantee could be reduced to zero. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Notes—Federal and state fraudulent transfer laws may permit a court to void the guarantees, and, if that occurs, you may not receive any payments on the notes.”

 

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Each Guarantee by a Guarantor will provide by its terms that it will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon:

 

(1)                           (a)      any sale, exchange or transfer (by merger or otherwise) of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor (including any sale, exchange or transfer), after which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary or all or substantially all the assets of such Guarantor, which sale, exchange or transfer is made in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Senior Subordinated Indenture;

 

(b)               the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Guarantor of the Senior Credit Facilities or such other guarantee that resulted in the creation of such guarantee, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such guarantee;

 

(c)                the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Senior Subordinated Indenture; or

 

(d)               the exercise by the Issuer of its legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option as described under “Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” or the discharge of the Issuer’s obligations under the Senior Subordinated Indenture in accordance with the terms of the Senior Subordinated Indenture; and

 

(2)          such Guarantor delivering to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in the Senior Subordinated Indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

Other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness Versus Senior Subordinated Notes

 

Only Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor that is Senior Indebtedness ranks senior to the Senior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantees in accordance with the provisions of the Senior Subordinated Indenture. The Senior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantees rank pari passu with all future Senior Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer and the Guarantors.

 

The Issuer and the Guarantors agree in the Senior Subordinated Indenture not to incur any Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness, unless such Indebtedness is Senior Subordinated Indebtedness of the applicable person or is expressly subordinated in right of payment to Senior Subordinated Indebtedness of such person. The Senior Subordinated Indenture does not treat (i) unsecured Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured or (ii) Senior Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to any other Senior Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral.

 

Payment of Senior Subordinated Notes

 

Neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor are permitted to make payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Senior Subordinated Notes (or pay any other obligations relating to the Senior Subordinated Notes, including Special Interest, fees, costs, expenses, indemnities and rescission or damage claims) or make any deposit pursuant to the provisions described under “Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” or “Satisfaction and Discharge” below and may not purchase, redeem or otherwise retire any Senior Subordinated Notes (collectively, “pay the Senior Subordinated Notes”) (except in the form of Permitted Junior Securities) if either of the following occurs (a “Payment Default”):

 

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(1)           any Obligation on any Designated Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer is not paid in full in cash when due (after giving effect to any applicable grace period); or

 

(2)           any other default on Designated Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer occurs and the maturity of such Designated Senior Indebtedness is accelerated in accordance with its terms;

 

unless, in either case, the Payment Default has been cured or waived and any such acceleration has been rescinded or such Designated Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer is permitted to pay the Senior Subordinated Notes if it and the Trustee receive written notice approving such payment from the Representatives of all Designated Senior Indebtedness with respect to which the Payment Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

During the continuance of any default other than a Payment Default (a “Non-Payment Default”) with respect to any Designated Senior Indebtedness pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be accelerated without further notice (except such notice as may be required to effect such acceleration) or the expiration of any applicable grace periods, the Issuer is not permitted to pay the Senior Subordinated Notes (except in the form of Permitted Junior Securities) for a period (a “Payment Blockage Period”) commencing upon the receipt by the Trustee (with a copy to the Issuer) of written notice (a “Blockage Notice”) of such default from the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness specifying an election to effect a Payment Blockage Period and ending 179 days thereafter. The Payment Blockage Period will end earlier if such Payment Blockage Period is terminated:

 

(1)           by written notice to the Trustee and the Issuer from the Person or Persons who gave such Blockage Notice;

 

(2)           because the default giving rise to such Blockage Notice is cured, waived or otherwise no longer continuing; or

 

(3)           because such Designated Senior Indebtedness has been discharged or repaid in full in cash.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions described above, unless the holders of such Designated Senior Indebtedness or the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness have accelerated the maturity of such Designated Senior Indebtedness, the Issuer and related Guarantors are permitted to resume paying the Senior Subordinated Notes after the end of such Payment Blockage Period. The Senior Subordinated Notes shall not be subject to more than one Payment Blockage Period in any consecutive 360-day period irrespective of the number of defaults with respect to Designated Senior Indebtedness during such period; provided that if any Payment Blockage Notice is delivered to the Trustee by or on behalf of the holders of Designated Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer (other than the holders of Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities), a Representative of holders of Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities may give another Payment Blockage Notice within such period. However, in no event may the total number of days during which any Payment Blockage Period or Periods on the Senior Subordinated Notes is in effect exceed 179 days in the aggregate during any consecutive 360-day period, and there must be at least 181 days during any consecutive 360-day period during which no Payment Blockage Period is in effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, no Default that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery of any Blockage Notice to the Trustee will be, or be made, the basis for a subsequent Blockage Notice unless such default has been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days (it being acknowledged that any subsequent action, or any breach of any financial covenants during the period after the date of delivery of such initial Blockage Notice, that, in either case, would give rise to a Non-Payment Default pursuant to any provisions under which a Non-Payment Default previously existed or was continuing shall constitute a new Non-Payment Default for this purpose).

 

Upon any payment or distribution of the assets of the Issuer upon a total or partial liquidation or dissolution or reorganization of or similar proceeding relating to the Issuer or its property:

 

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(1)           the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer will be entitled to receive payment in full in cash of such Senior Indebtedness before the Holders are entitled to receive any payment;

 

(2)           until the Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer is paid in full in cash, any payment or distribution to which Holders would be entitled but for the subordination provisions of the Senior Subordinated Indenture will be made to holders of such Senior Indebtedness as their interests may appear, except that Holders may receive Permitted Junior Securities; and

 

(3)           if a distribution is made to Holders that, due to the subordination provisions, should not have been made to them, such Holders are required to hold it in trust for the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer and pay it over to them as their interests may appear.

 

The subordination and payment blockage provisions described above will not prevent a Default from occurring under the Senior Subordinated Indenture upon the failure of the Issuer to pay principal, premium, if any, or interest with respect to the Senior Subordinated Notes when due by their terms. If payment of the Senior Subordinated Notes is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the Issuer or the Trustee must promptly notify the holders of Designated Senior Indebtedness or the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness of the acceleration. So long as there shall remain outstanding Senior Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities, a Blockage Notice with respect to the Senior Credit Facilities may only be given by the respective administrative agents thereunder unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the respective requisite lenders named therein. If any Designated Senior Indebtedness is outstanding, neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor may pay the Senior Subordinated Notes until five Business Days after the Representatives of all the issues of Designated Senior Indebtedness receive notice of such acceleration and, thereafter, may pay the Senior Subordinated Notes only if the Senior Subordinated Indenture otherwise permits payment at that time.

 

A Guarantor’s obligations under its Guarantee are senior subordinated obligations. As such, the rights of Holders to receive payment by a Guarantor pursuant to its Guarantee will be subordinated in right of payment to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor. The terms of the subordination and payment blockage provisions described above with respect to the Issuer’s obligations under the Senior Subordinated Notes apply equally to a Guarantor and the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee.

 

A Holder by its acceptance of Senior Subordinated Notes agrees to be bound by these subordination provisions and authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee under the Senior Subordinated Indenture, on its behalf, to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided for in the Senior Subordinated Indenture and appoints the Trustee under the Senior Subordinated Indenture its attorney-in-fact for such purpose.

 

By reason of the subordination provisions contained in the Senior Subordinated Indenture, in the event of a liquidation or insolvency proceeding, creditors of the Issuer or a Guarantor who are holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, may recover more, ratably, than the Holders, and creditors of the Issuer or a Guarantor who are not holders of Senior Indebtedness may recover less, ratably, than holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer or such Guarantor and may recover more, ratably, than the Holders. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Notes—Your right to receive payments on the senior subordinated notes will be junior to our existing and future senior indebtedness, including borrowings under our new senior secured credit facilities and the senior notes.”

 

The terms of the subordination provisions described above will not apply to payments from money or the proceeds of Government Securities deposited in trust or with the Trustee, as applicable, for the payment of principal of and interest on the Senior Subordinated Notes pursuant to the provisions described under “Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” or “Satisfaction and Discharge,” if the subordination provisions described in this section were not violated at the time the applicable amounts were deposited in trust or with the Trustee, as applicable, pursuant to such sections.

 

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Paying Agent and Registrar for the Senior Subordinated Notes

 

The Issuer maintains one or more paying agents and a registrar for the Senior Subordinated Notes with offices in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York. As of the date of this prospectus, the paying agent and the registrar for the Senior Subordinated Notes is the Trustee.

 

The registrar will maintain a register reflecting ownership of the Senior Subordinated Notes outstanding from time to time and will make payments on and facilitate transfer of Senior Subordinated Notes on behalf of the Issuer.

 

The Issuer may change the paying agents or the registrars without prior notice to the Holders. The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act as a paying agent or registrar.

 

Transfer and Exchange

 

A Holder may transfer or exchange Senior Subordinated Notes in accordance with the Senior Subordinated Indenture. The registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents in connection with a transfer of Senior Subordinated Notes. Holders will be required to pay all taxes due on transfer. The Issuer will not be required to transfer or exchange any Senior Subordinated Note selected for redemption. Also, the Issuer will not be required to transfer or exchange any Senior Subordinated Note for a period of 15 days before a selection of Senior Subordinated Notes to be redeemed.

 

Principal, Maturity and Interest

 

The Issuer issued $725,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes. As of the date of this prospectus, $450,697,000 aggregate principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes remained outstanding. The Senior Subordinated Notes will mature on July 15, 2017. Subject to compliance with the covenant described below under the caption “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock,” the Issuer may issue additional Senior Subordinated Notes from time to time after this offering under the Senior Subordinated Indenture (any such Senior Subordinated Notes, “Additional Senior Subordinated Notes”). In addition, in connection with the payment of PIK Interest or Partial PIK Interest in respect of the Senior Subordinated Notes, the Issuer is entitled, without the consent of the Holders, to increase the outstanding principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes or issue additional Senior Subordinated Notes (the “PIK Notes”) under the Senior Subordinated Indenture on the same terms and conditions as the Senior Subordinated Notes (in each case, the “PIK Payment”). The Senior Subordinated Notes, the PIK Notes and any Additional Senior Subordinated Notes subsequently issued under the Senior Subordinated Indenture, are treated as a single class for all purposes under the Senior Subordinated Indenture, including waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “Senior Subordinated Notes” for all purposes of the Senior Subordinated Indenture and this “Description of Senior Subordinated Notes” include any PIK Notes and Additional Senior Subordinated Notes that are actually issued, and references to “principal amount” of the Senior Subordinated Notes includes any increase in the principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes as a result of a PIK Payment.

 

Interest on the Senior Subordinated Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15, commencing on January 15, 2008, to the Holders of record on the immediately preceding January 1 and July 1. Interest on the Senior Subordinated Notes accrues from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including the Issue Date. Interest on the Senior Subordinated Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. For any interest payment period after the initial interest payment period and prior to July 15, 2011,

 

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The Issuer may, at its option, elect to pay interest on the Senior Subordinated Notes:

 

·                  entirely in cash (“Cash Interest”);

 

·                  entirely by increasing the principal amount of the outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes or by issuing PIK Notes (“PIK Interest”); or

 

·                  on 50% of the outstanding principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes in cash and on 50% of the principal amount by increasing the principal amount of the outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes or by issuing PIK Notes (“Partial PIK Interest”).

 

The Issuer must elect the form of interest payment with respect to each interest period by delivering a notice to the Trustee at least 30 days prior to the beginning of each interest period. The Trustee shall promptly deliver a corresponding notice to the Holders. In the absence of such an election for any interest period, interest on the Senior Subordinated Notes shall be payable according to the election for the previous interest period. Interest for the first interest period commencing on the Issue Date shall be payable entirely in cash. After July 15, 2011, the Issuer will make all interest payments on the Senior Subordinated Notes entirely in cash. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the payment of accrued interest in connection with any redemption of Senior Subordinated Notes as described under “—Optional Redemption” or “Repurchase at the Option of Holders” shall be made solely in cash.

 

Cash Interest on the Senior Subordinated Notes will accrue at a rate of 11.875% per annum and be payable in cash. PIK Interest on the Senior Subordinated Notes will accrue at a rate of 12.625% per annum and be payable (x) with respect to Senior Subordinated Notes represented by one or more global notes registered in the name of, or held by, The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee on the relevant record date, by increasing the principal amount of the outstanding global Senior Subordinated Note by an amount equal to the amount of PIK Interest for the applicable interest period (rounded up to the nearest $1,000) and (y) with respect to Senior Subordinated Notes represented by certificated notes, by issuing PIK Notes in certificated form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the amount of PIK Interest for the applicable period (rounded up to the nearest whole dollar), and the Trustee will, at the request of the Issuer, authenticate and deliver such PIK Notes in certificated form for original issuance to the Holders on the relevant record date, as shown by the records of the register of Holders. In the event that the Issuer elects to pay Partial PIK Interest for any interest period, each Holder will be entitled to receive Cash Interest in respect of 50% of the principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes held by such Holder on the relevant record date and PIK Interest in respect of 50% of the principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes held by such Holder on the relevant record date. Following an increase in the principal amount of the outstanding global Senior Subordinated Notes as a result of a PIK Payment, such global Senior Subordinated Notes will bear interest on such increased principal amount from and after the date of such PIK Payment. Any PIK Notes issued in certificated form will be dated as of the applicable interest payment date and will bear interest from and after such date. All Senior Subordinated Notes issued pursuant to a PIK Payment will mature on July 15, 2017 and will be governed by, and subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of, the Senior Subordinated Indenture and shall have the same rights and benefits as the Senior Subordinated Notes issued on the Issue Date. Any certificated PIK Notes will be issued with the description “PIK” on the face of such PIK Note.

 

If the Senior Subordinated Notes would otherwise constitute “applicable high yield discount obligations” within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Code, at the end of each accrual period ending after the fifth anniversary of the Senior Subordinated Notes’ issuance (each, an “AHYDO redemption date”), the Issuer will be required to redeem for cash a portion of each Senior Subordinated Note then outstanding equal to the “Mandatory Principal Redemption Amount” (such redemption, a “Mandatory Principal Redemption”). The redemption price for the portion of each Senior Subordinated Note redeemed pursuant to a Mandatory Principal Redemption will be 100% of the principal amount of such portion plus any accrued interest thereon on the date of redemption. The “Mandatory Principal Redemption Amount” means, as of each AHYDO redemption date, the excess, if any, of (a) the aggregate amount of accrued and unpaid interest and all accrued and unpaid “original issue discount” (as defined in Section 1273(a)(1) of the Code) with respect to the Senior Subordinated Notes, over (b) an amount equal to the product of (i) the “issue price” (as defined in Sections 1273(b) and 1274(a) of the Code) of the Senior Subordinated Notes multiplied by (ii) the “yield to maturity” (as defined in the Treasury Regulation Section 1.1272-1(b)(1)(i)) of the Senior Subordinated Notes. No partial redemption or repurchase of the Senior Subordinated Notes prior to any AHYDO redemption date pursuant to any other provision of the Senior Subordinated Indenture will

 

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alter the Issuer’s obligation to make any Mandatory Principal Redemption with respect to any Senior Subordinated Notes that remain outstanding on the AHYDO redemption date.

 

Special Interest

 

Special Interest may accrue on the Senior Subordinated Notes in certain circumstances pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement. Any Special Interest on the Senior Subordinated Notes will be payable in the same form elected by the Issuer for payment of interest for the applicable interest payment period. All references in the Senior Subordinated Indenture, in any context, to any interest or other amount payable on or with respect to the Senior Subordinated Notes shall be deemed to include any Special Interest pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement. Principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Senior Subordinated Notes will be payable at the office or agency of the Issuer maintained for such purpose within the City and State of New York or, at the option of the Issuer, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their respective addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to the Senior Subordinated Notes represented by one or more global notes registered in the name of or held by DTC or its nominee will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holder or Holders thereof. Until otherwise designated by the Issuer, the Issuer’s office or agency in New York will be the office of the Trustee maintained for such purpose.

 

Mandatory Redemption; Offers to Purchase; Open Market Purchases

 

Except as set forth in the last paragraph under “Principal, Maturity and Interest,” the Issuer will not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Senior Subordinated Notes. However, under certain circumstances, the Issuer may be required to offer to purchase Senior Subordinated Notes as described under the caption “Repurchase at the Option of Holders.” The Issuer may from time to time acquire any Senior Subordinated Notes by means other than a redemption, whether by tender offer, in open market purchases, through negotiated transactions or otherwise.

 

Optional Redemption

 

Except as set forth below, the Issuer will not be entitled to redeem Senior Subordinated Notes at its option prior to July 15, 2012.

 

At any time prior to July 15, 2012, the Issuer may redeem all or a part of the Senior Subordinated Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to the registered address of each Holder or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the date of redemption (the “Redemption Date”), subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

 

On and after July 15, 2012, the Issuer may redeem the Senior Subordinated Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to the registered address of each Holder or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon and Special Interest, if any, to the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on July 15 of each of the years indicated below:

 

 

Year

 

Percentage

 

2012

 

105.938

%

2013

 

103.958

%

2014

 

101.979

%

2015 and thereafter

 

100.000

%

 

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In addition, until July 15, 2010, the Issuer may, at its option, on one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes at a redemption price equal to 111.875% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon and Special Interest, if any, to the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided that at least 50% of the sum of the original aggregate principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes issued under the Senior Subordinated Indenture and the original principal amount of any Additional Senior Subordinated Notes issued under the Senior Subordinated Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; provided further that each such redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

 

Notice of redemption may be given prior to the redemption thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of an Equity Offering or other corporate transaction.

 

If the Issuer redeems less than all of the outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes, the Trustee shall select the Senior Subordinated Notes to be redeemed in the manner described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Selection and Notice.”

 

Repurchase at the Option of Holders

 

Change of Control

 

The Senior Subordinated Notes provide that if a Change of Control occurs, unless the Issuer has previously or concurrently mailed a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes as described under “Optional Redemption,” the Issuer will make an offer to purchase all of the Senior Subordinated Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a price in cash (the “Change of Control Payment”) equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Issuer will send notice of such Change of Control Offer by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder to the address of such Holder appearing in the security register or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, with the following information:

 

(1)           that a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to the covenant entitled “Change of Control” and that all Senior Subordinated Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer will be accepted for payment by the Issuer;

 

(2)           the purchase price and the purchase date, which will be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);

 

(3)           that any Senior Subordinated Note not properly tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest;

 

(4)           that unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Senior Subordinated Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest on the Change of Control Payment Date;

 

(5)           that Holders electing to have any Senior Subordinated Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender such Senior Subordinated Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of such Senior Subordinated Notes completed, to the paying agent and at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;

 

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(6)           that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their tendered Senior Subordinated Notes and their election to require the Issuer to purchase such Senior Subordinated Notes; provided that the paying agent receives, not later than the close of business on the 30th day following the date of the Change of Control notice, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Senior Subordinated Notes and its election to have such Senior Subordinated Notes purchased;

 

(7)           that if the Issuer is redeeming less than all of the Senior Subordinated Notes, the Holders of the remaining Senior Subordinated Notes will be issued new Senior Subordinated Notes that will be equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Senior Subordinated Notes surrendered. The unpurchased portion of the Senior Subordinated Notes must be equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; and

 

(8)           the other instructions, as determined by us, consistent with the covenant described hereunder, that a Holder must follow.

 

The Issuer will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent they are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Senior Subordinated Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of the Senior Subordinated Indenture, the Issuer will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in the Senior Subordinated Indenture by virtue thereof.

 

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuer will, to the extent permitted by law,

 

(1)           accept for payment all Senior Subordinated Notes issued by it or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

 

(2)           deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the aggregate Change of Control Payment in respect of all Senior Subordinated Notes or portions thereof so tendered; and

 

(3)           deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation the Senior Subordinated Notes so accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that such Senior Subordinated Notes or portions thereof have been tendered to and purchased by the Issuer.

 

The paying agent will promptly mail to each Holder the Change of Control Payment for such Senior Subordinated Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Senior Subordinated Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Senior Subordinated Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Senior Subordinated Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

The Senior Credit Facilities and Senior Notes will limit, and future credit agreements or other agreements relating to the Senior Indebtedness to which the Issuer becomes a party may prohibit or limit, the Issuer from purchasing any Senior Subordinated Notes as a result of a Change of Control. In the event a Change of Control occurs at a time when the Issuer is prohibited from purchasing the Senior Subordinated Notes, the Issuer could seek the consent of its lenders and the holders of the Senior Notes to permit the purchase of the Senior Subordinated Notes or could attempt to refinance the borrowings and Senior Notes that contain such prohibition. In such case, the Issuer’s failure to purchase tendered Senior Subordinated Notes would constitute an Event of Default under the Senior Subordinated Indenture. If, as a result thereof, a default occurs with respect to any Senior Indebtedness, the subordination provisions in the Senior Subordinated Indenture would restrict payments to the Holders under certain circumstances. The Senior Credit Facilities will, and future credit agreements or other agreements relating to Senior Indebtedness to which the Issuer becomes a party may, provide that certain change of control events with respect to the Issuer would constitute a default thereunder (including a Change of Control under the Senior Subordinated Indenture). If we experience a change of control that triggers a default under our Senior Credit Facilities, we could seek a waiver of such default or seek to refinance our Senior Credit Facilities. In the event we do not obtain such a

 

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waiver or refinance the Senior Credit Facilities, such default could result in amounts outstanding under our Senior Credit Facilities being declared due and payable and could cause a Receivables Facility to be wound down.

 

Our ability to pay cash to the Holders following the occurrence of a Change of Control may be limited by our then-existing financial resources. Therefore, sufficient funds may not be available when necessary to make any required repurchases.

 

The Change of Control purchase feature of the Senior Subordinated Notes may in certain circumstances make more difficult or discourage a sale or takeover of us and, thus, the removal of incumbent management. The Change of Control purchase feature is a result of negotiations between the Initial Purchasers and us. After the Issue Date, we have no present intention to engage in a transaction involving a Change of Control, although it is possible that we could decide to do so in the future. Subject to the limitations discussed below, we could, in the future, enter into certain transactions, including acquisitions, refinancings or other recapitalizations, that would not constitute a Change of Control under the Senior Subordinated Indenture, but that could increase the amount of indebtedness outstanding at such time or otherwise affect our capital structure or credit ratings. Restrictions on our ability to incur additional Indebtedness are contained in the covenants described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” and “Certain Covenants—Liens.” Such restrictions in the Senior Subordinated Indenture can be waived only with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes then outstanding. Except for the limitations contained in such covenants, however, the Senior Subordinated Indenture will not contain any covenants or provisions that may afford Holders protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction.

 

The Issuer will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Senior Subordinated Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by us and purchases all Senior Subordinated Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time the Change of Control Offer is made.

 

The definition of “Change of Control” includes a disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer to any Person. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, in certain circumstances there may be a degree of uncertainty as to whether a particular transaction would involve a disposition of “all or substantially all” of the assets of the Issuer. As a result, it may be unclear as to whether a Change of Control has occurred and whether a Holder may require the Issuer to make an offer to repurchase the Senior Subordinated Notes as described above.

 

The provisions under the Senior Subordinated Indenture relating to the Issuer’s obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Senior Subordinated Notes as a result of a Change of Control may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes.

 

Asset Sales

 

The Senior Subordinated Indenture provides that the Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to consummate, directly or indirectly, an Asset Sale, unless:

 

(1)           the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of; and

 

(2)           except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

 

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(a)           any liabilities (as shown on the Issuer’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto) of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Senior Subordinated Notes, that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets and for which the Issuer and all of its Restricted Subsidiaries have been validly released by all creditors in writing,

 

(b)           any securities received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received) within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Sale, and

 

(c)           any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (c) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed 5.0% of Total Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value,

 

shall be deemed to be cash for purposes of this provision and for no other purpose.

 

Within 360 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, at its option, may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale,

 

(1)           to permanently reduce:

 

(a)           Obligations under any Senior Indebtedness, the Senior Subordinated Notes or any other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness, in each case, of the Issuer or any Guarantor (other than Obligations owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) and, in the case of Obligations under revolving credit facilities or other similar Indebtedness, to correspondingly permanently reduce commitments with respect thereto; provided that if the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary shall so reduce Obligations under any Senior Subordinated Indebtedness, the Issuer or such Guarantor will, equally and ratably, reduce Obligations under the Senior Subordinated Notes by, at its option, (A) redeeming Senior Subordinated Notes, (B) making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer) to all Holders to purchase their Senior Subordinated Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, on the principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes to be repurchased or (C) purchasing Senior Subordinated Notes through open market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at a price equal to or higher than 100% of the principal amount thereof) in a manner that complies with the Senior Subordinated Indenture and applicable securities law; or

 

(b)           Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(2)           to make (a) an Investment in any one or more businesses, provided that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock and results in the Issuer or another of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes a Restricted Subsidiary, (b) capital expenditures or (c) acquisitions of other assets, in each of (a), (b) and (c), used or useful in a Similar Business; or

 

(3)           to make an Investment in (a) any one or more businesses, provided that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock and results in the Issuer or another of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes a Restricted Subsidiary, (b) properties or (c) acquisitions of other assets that, in each of (a), (b) and (c), replace the businesses, properties and/or assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale;

 

provided that, in the case of clauses (2) and (3) above, a binding commitment shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as the Issuer, or such other Restricted

 

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Subsidiary enters into such commitment with the good faith expectation that such Net Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 180 days of such commitment (an “Acceptable Commitment”) and, in the event any Acceptable Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before the Net Proceeds are applied in connection therewith, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into another Acceptable Commitment (a “Second Commitment”) within 180 days of such cancellation or termination; provided, further, that if any Second Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds.

 

Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not invested or applied as provided and within the time period set forth in the first sentence of the preceding paragraph will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $75.0 million, the Issuer shall make an offer to all Holders and, if required or permitted by the terms of any Senior Subordinated Indebtedness, to the holders of such Senior Subordinated Indebtedness (an “Asset Sale Offer”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes and such Senior Indebtedness that is a minimum of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Senior Subordinated Indenture. The Issuer will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within ten Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $75.0 million by mailing the notice required pursuant to the terms of the Senior Subordinated Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee.

 

To the extent that the aggregate amount of Senior Subordinated Notes and such Senior Subordinated Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Issuer may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes, subject to other covenants contained in the Senior Subordinated Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes or such Senior Subordinated Indebtedness surrendered by such holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Senior Subordinated Notes and such other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes or such Senior Subordinated Indebtedness tendered. Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero. Additionally, the Issuer may, at its option, make an Asset Sale Offer using proceeds from any Asset Sale at any time after consummation of such Asset Sale; provided that such Asset Sale Offer shall be in an aggregate amount of not less than $75.0 million. Upon consummation of such Asset Sale Offer, any Net Proceeds not required to be used to purchase Senior Subordinated Notes shall not be deemed Excess Proceeds.

 

Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds pursuant to this covenant, the holder of such Net Proceeds may apply such Net Proceeds temporarily to reduce Indebtedness outstanding under a revolving credit facility or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by the Senior Subordinated Indenture.

 

The Issuer will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Senior Subordinated Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of the Senior Subordinated Indenture, the Issuer will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in the Senior Subordinated Indenture by virtue thereof.

 

The Senior Credit Facilities and the Senior Notes will prohibit or limit (subject to limited exceptions), and future credit agreements or other agreements to which the Issuer becomes a party may limit or prohibit, the Issuer from purchasing any Senior Subordinated Notes as a result of an Asset Sale Offer. In the event the Issuer is required to make an Asset Sale Offer at a time when the Issuer is prohibited from purchasing the Senior Subordinated Notes, the Issuer could seek the consent of its lenders to permit the purchase of the Senior Subordinated Notes or could attempt to refinance the borrowings and Senior Notes that contain such prohibition. If the Issuer does not obtain such consent or repay such borrowings or Senior Notes, the Issuer will remain prohibited from purchasing the Senior Subordinated Notes. In such case, the Issuer’s failure to purchase tendered Senior Subordinated Notes would constitute an Event of Default under the Senior Subordinated Indenture.

 

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The provisions under the Senior Subordinated Indenture relative to the Issuer’s obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Senior Subordinated Notes as a result of an Asset Sale may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes.

 

Selection and Notice

 

If the Issuer is redeeming less than all of the Senior Subordinated Notes issued at any time, the Trustee will select the Senior Subordinated Notes to be redeemed (a) if the Senior Subordinated Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Senior Subordinated Notes are listed, (b) on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable or (c) by lot or such other similar method in accordance with the procedures of DTC.

 

Notices of purchase or redemption shall be mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the purchase or Redemption Date to each Holder at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Senior Subordinated Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Senior Subordinated Indenture. If any Senior Subordinated Note is to be purchased or redeemed in part only, any notice of purchase or redemption that relates to such Senior Subordinated Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof that has been or is to be purchased or redeemed.

 

The Issuer will issue a new Senior Subordinated Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Senior Subordinated Note in the name of the Holder upon cancellation of the original Senior Subordinated Note. Senior Subordinated Notes called for redemption become due on the date fixed for redemption. On and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue on Senior Subordinated Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

 

Certain Covenants

 

Limitation on Restricted Payments

 

The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

(I)  declare or pay any dividend or make any payment or distribution on account of the Issuer’s, or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any dividend or distribution payable in connection with any merger or consolidation other than:

 

(a)           dividends or distributions by the Issuer payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer; or

 

(b)           dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities;

 

(II)  purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, including in connection with any merger or consolidation;

 

(III)  make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value in each case, prior to any scheduled repayment, sinking fund payment or maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness, other than:

 

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(a)           Indebtedness permitted under clauses (8) and (9) of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”; or

 

(b)           the purchase, repurchase or other acquisition of Subordinated Indebtedness purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of purchase, repurchase or acquisition; or

 

(IV)  make any Restricted Investment

 

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (I) through (IV) above (other than any exception thereto) being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

 

(1)           no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

 

(2)           immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Issuer could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the provisions of the first paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”; and

 

(3)           such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (1), (2) (with respect to the payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock (as defined below) pursuant to clause (b) thereof only), (6)(c), (9) and (14) of the next succeeding paragraph, but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum of (without duplication):

 

(a)           50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for the period (taken as one accounting period) beginning May 4, 2007, to the end of the Issuer’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment, or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit; plus

 

(b)           100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Issuer, of marketable securities or other property received by the Issuer since immediately after the Issue Date from the issue or sale of:

 

(i)            (A) Equity Interests of the Issuer, including Treasury Capital Stock (as defined below), but excluding cash proceeds and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Issuer, of marketable securities or other property received from the sale of:

 

(x)            Equity Interests to members of management, directors or consultants of the Issuer, any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries after the Issue Date to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with clause (4) of the next succeeding paragraph; and

 

(y)           Designated Preferred Stock; and

 

(B) to the extent such net cash proceeds are actually contributed to the Issuer, Equity Interests of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies (excluding contributions of the proceeds from the sale of Designated Preferred Stock of such companies or contributions to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with clause (4) of the next succeeding paragraph); or

 

(ii)           debt securities of the Issuer that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests of the Issuer;

 

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provided, however, that this clause (b) shall not include the proceeds from (V) Refunding Capital Stock (as defined below), (W) Equity Interests of the Issuer or convertible debt securities of the Issuer sold to a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, (X) Disqualified Stock or debt securities that have been converted into Disqualified Stock, (Y) Excluded Contributions or (Z) transactions whose proceeds were used to incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to clause (13)(a) of the second paragraph of “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock,” solely to the extent of such usage; plus

 

(c)           100% of the aggregate amount of cash and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Issuer, of marketable securities or other property contributed to the capital of the Issuer following the Issue Date (other than net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds (i) have been used to incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to clause (13)(a) of the second paragraph of “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock,” (ii) are contributed by a Restricted Subsidiary or (iii) constitute Excluded Contributions; plus

 

(d)           to the extent not already included in Consolidated Net Income, 100% of the aggregate amount received in cash and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Issuer, of marketable securities or other property received by means of:

 

(i)            the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case after the Issue Date; or

 

(ii)           the sale (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than in each case to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (7) of the next succeeding paragraph or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment) or a dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date; plus

 

(e)           in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, the fair market value of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary, as determined by the Issuer in good faith (or if such fair market value exceeds $75.0 million, in writing by an Independent Financial Advisor), at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary other than to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (7) of the next succeeding paragraph or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment.

 

The foregoing provisions will not prohibit:

 

(1)           the payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of the Senior Subordinated Indenture;

 

(2)           (a) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“Treasury Capital Stock”) or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent contributed to the Issuer (in each case, other than any Disqualified Stock) (“Refunding Capital Stock”) and (b) if immediately prior to the retirement of Treasury Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon was permitted under clause (6) of this paragraph, the declaration and payment of dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock (other than Refunding Capital Stock the proceeds of which were used to redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer) in an aggregate amount per year no greater than the aggregate amount of dividends per annum that were declarable and payable on such Treasury Capital Stock immediately prior to such retirement;

 

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(3)           the redemption, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor made in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor, as the case may be, which is incurred in compliance with “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” so long as:

 

(a)           the principal amount (or accreted value) of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value, plus the amount of any reasonable premium (including reasonable tender premiums), defeasance costs and any reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness;

 

(b)           such new Indebtedness is subordinated to the Senior Subordinated Notes or the applicable Guarantee at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value;

 

(c)           such new Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired; and

 

(d)           such new Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired;

 

(4)           a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies held by any future, present or former employee, director or consultant of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement, including any Equity Interests rolled over by management of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies in connection with the Transactions; provided, however, that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (4) do not exceed in any calendar year $12.5 million (which shall increase to $25.0 million subsequent to the consummation of an underwritten public Equity Offering by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Issuer) (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $50.0 million in any calendar year (which shall increase to $100.0 million subsequent to the consummation of an underwritten public Equity Offering by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent corporation of the Issuer)); provided further that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

 

(a)           the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer and, to the extent contributed to the Issuer, Equity Interests of any of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies, in each case to members of management, directors or consultants of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that occurs after the Issue Date to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of clause (3) of the preceding paragraph; plus

 

(b)           the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date; less

 

(c)           the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (a) and (b) of this clause (4);

 

and provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from members of management of the Issuer, any of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies or any of the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of its direct or

 

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indirect parent companies will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this covenant or any other provision of the Senior Subordinated Indenture;

 

(5)           the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any class or series of Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary issued in accordance with the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Fixed Charges”;

 

(6)           (a)  the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued by the Issuer after the Issue Date;

 

(b)  the declaration and payment of dividends to a direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of such parent company issued after the Issue Date; provided that the amount of dividends paid pursuant to this clause (b) shall not exceed the aggregate amount of cash actually contributed to the Issuer from the sale of such Designated Preferred Stock; or

 

(c)  the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock in excess of the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to clause (2) of this paragraph;

 

provided, however, in the case of each of (a), (b) and (c) of this clause (6), that for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock or the declaration of such dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance or declaration on a pro forma basis, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00;

 

(7)           Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (7) that are at the time outstanding, without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or marketable securities, not to exceed $50.0 million at the time of such Investment (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

 

(8)           repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;

 

(9)           the declaration and payment of dividends on the Issuer’s common stock (or the payment of dividends to any direct or indirect parent entity to fund a payment of dividends on such entity’s common stock), following consummation of the first public offering of the Issuer’s common stock or the common stock of any of its direct or indirect parent companies after the Issue Date, of up to 6% per annum of the net cash proceeds received by or contributed to the Issuer in or from any such public offering, other than public offerings with respect to the Issuer’s common stock registered on Form S-8 and other than any public sale constituting an Excluded Contribution;

 

(10)         Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

 

(11)         other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (11) not to exceed $100.0 million at the time made;

 

(12)         distributions or payments of Receivables Fees;

 

(13)         any Restricted Payment made as part of the Transactions and the fees and expenses related thereto or used to fund amounts owed to Affiliates (including dividends to any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to permit payment by such parent of such amount), in each case to the extent permitted by the covenant described under “—Transactions with Affiliates”;

 

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(14)                            the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness in accordance with the provisions similar to those described under the captions “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control” and “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales”; provided that all Senior Subordinated Notes tendered by Holders in connection with a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value;

 

(15)                            the declaration and payment of dividends by the Issuer to, or the making of loans to, any direct or indirect parent in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent companies to pay, in each case without duplication,

 

(a)                                  franchise and excise taxes and other fees, taxes and expenses required to maintain their corporate existence;

 

(b)                                 foreign, federal, state and local income taxes, to the extent such income taxes are attributable to the income of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and, to the extent of the amount actually received from its Unrestricted Subsidiaries, in amounts required to pay such taxes to the extent attributable to the income of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries; provided that in each case the amount of such payments in any fiscal year does not exceed the amount that the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be required to pay in respect of foreign, federal, state and local taxes for such fiscal year were the Issuer, its Restricted Subsidiaries and its Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent described above) to pay such taxes separately from any such parent entity;

 

(c)                                  customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to officers and employees of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent such salaries, bonuses and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(d)                                 general corporate operating and overhead costs and expenses of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent such costs and expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(e)                                  fees and expenses other than to Affiliates of the Issuer related to any unsuccessful equity or debt offering of such parent entity;

 

provided, however, that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clause (11), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

 

As of the Issue Date, all of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries will be Restricted Subsidiaries. The Issuer will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the last sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investment.” Such designation will be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time, whether pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant or under clause (7), (10) or (11) of the second paragraph of this covenant, or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments,” and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants set forth in the Senior Subordinated Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this covenant, the Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, pay any cash dividend or make any cash distribution on or in respect of the Issuer’s Capital Stock or purchase for cash or otherwise acquire for cash any Capital Stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, for the purpose of paying any cash dividend or making any cash distribution to, or acquiring Capital Stock of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer for cash from, the Investors, or Guarantee any Indebtedness of any Affiliate of the Issuer for the purpose of paying such dividend, making such distribution or so acquiring such Capital Stock to or from the Investors, in each case by means of utilization of the cumulative Restricted Payment credit provided by the first paragraph of this covenant, or the exceptions provided by clauses (1),

 

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(7) or (11) of the second paragraph of this covenant or clauses (8) or (13) of the definition of “Permitted Investments,” unless at the time and after giving effect to such payment, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Issuer would be equal to or less than 6.00:1.00.

 

Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock

 

The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise (collectively, “incur” and collectively, an “incurrence”) with respect to any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), and the Issuer will not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the Issuer may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock and issue shares of Preferred Stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period; provided, further, that Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors may not incur Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock if, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or issuance (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), more than an aggregate of $250.0 million of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors would be outstanding pursuant to this paragraph and clauses (13)(b), (15) and (20) below at such time.

 

The foregoing limitations will not apply to:

 

(1)                                  the incurrence of Indebtedness under (x) Credit Facilities (other than the ABL Facility) by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof), up to an aggregate principal amount of $2,625.0 million outstanding at any one time and (y) the ABL Facility by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof), up to an aggregate principal amount equal to the ABL Facility Cap;

 

(2)                                  the incurrence by the Issuer and any Guarantor of Indebtedness represented by the Senior Subordinated Notes issued on the Issue Date (including any PIK Notes and any Guarantee) and the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes and related guarantees of the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes to be issued in exchange for the Senior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantees pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (other than any Additional Senior Subordinated Notes and related guarantees);

 

(3)                                  the incurrence by the Issuer and any Guarantor of Indebtedness represented by the Senior Notes and related guarantees, as well as any exchange notes and exchange guarantees to be issued in exchange for the Senior Notes and related guarantees pursuant a registration rights agreement;

 

(4)                                  Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of this paragraph);

 

(5)                                  Indebtedness consisting of Capitalized Lease Obligations and Purchase Money Obligations in a principal amount not to exceed $250.0 million (excluding the principal amount of any Capitalized Lease Obligations or Purchase Money Obligations relating to the purchase, lease or improvement of the Company’s distribution centers located in Fulton, Missouri, Indianola, Mississippi and Ardmore, Oklahoma) in the aggregate at any one time outstanding together with all other Indebtedness issued under this clause (5); so long as such Indebtedness exists at the date of such purchase, lease or improvement, or is created within 270 days thereafter;

 

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(6)                                  Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business, including letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation or employee health claims, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers’ compensation, or employee health claims; provided, however, that upon the drawing of such letters of credit or the incurrence of such Indebtedness, such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing or incurrence;

 

(7)                                  Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or a Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition; provided, however, that such Indebtedness is not reflected on the balance sheet of the Issuer, or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (contingent obligations referred to in a footnote to financial statements and not otherwise reflected on the balance sheet will not be deemed to be reflected on such balance sheet for purposes of this clause (7));

 

(8)                                  Indebtedness of the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Senior Subordinated Notes; provided, further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (8);

 

(9)                                  Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if a Guarantor issues such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor (other than to any Restricted Subsidiary engaged in the insurance business in order to provide insurance to the Issuer and its Subsidiaries), such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of the Senior Subordinated Notes of such Guarantor; provided, further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (9);

 

(10)                            shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Issuer or another of its Restricted Subsidiaries) shall be deemed in each case to be an issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock not permitted by this clause (10);

 

(11)                            Hedging Obligations (excluding Hedging Obligations entered into for speculative purposes) for the purpose of limiting interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock,” or exchange rate risk or commodity pricing risk;

 

(12)                            obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(13)                            (a) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary equal to 100.0% of the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer since immediately after the Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer or cash contributed to the capital of the Issuer (in each case, other than Excluded Contributions or proceeds of Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) as determined in accordance with clauses (3)(b) and (3)(c) of the first paragraph of “—Limitation on Restricted Payments” to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have not been applied pursuant to such clauses to make Restricted Payments or to make other Investments, payments or exchanges pursuant to the second paragraph of “—Limitation on Restricted Payments” or to make Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments specified in clauses (1) and (3) of the definition thereof) and (b) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of Issuer and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred

 

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Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, which when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (13)(b), does not at any one time outstanding exceed $250.0 million; provided, however that on a pro forma basis, together with any amounts incurred and outstanding by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors pursuant to the second proviso to the first paragraph of this covenant and clauses (15) and (20), no more than $250.0 million of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock at any one time outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (13)(b) shall be incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors (it being understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (13)(b) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (13)(b) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of the first paragraph of this covenant from and after the first date on which the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under the first paragraph of this covenant without reliance on this clause (13)(b));

 

(14)                            the incurrence or issuance by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock which serves to refund or refinance any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred as permitted under the first paragraph of this covenant and clauses (2), (3), (4), (5) and (13)(a) above, this clause (14) and clause (15) below or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary issued to so refund or refinance such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary including additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay premiums (including reasonable tender premiums), defeasance costs and fees in connection therewith (the “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided, however, that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

 

(a)                                  has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refunded or refinanced,

 

(b)                                 to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (i) Indebtedness subordinated or pari passu to the Senior Subordinated Notes or any Guarantee thereof, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated or pari passu to the Senior Subordinated Notes or the Guarantee at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being refinanced or refunded or (ii) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, respectively, and

 

(c)                                  shall not include Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or a Guarantor;

 

and provided further that subclause (a) of this clause (14) will not apply to any refunding or refinancing of any Indebtedness outstanding under a Credit Facility;

 

(15)                            Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of (x) the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance an acquisition of any Person or assets or (y) Persons that are acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of the Senior Subordinated Indenture; provided that after giving effect to such acquisition or merger, either:

 

(a)                                  the Issuer would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first sentence of this covenant, or

 

(b)                                 the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries is greater than immediately prior to such acquisition or merger;

 

provided, however that on a pro forma basis, together with amounts incurred and outstanding pursuant to the second proviso to the first paragraph of this covenant and clauses (13)(b) and (20), no more than $250.0 million of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock at any one time outstanding and

 

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incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors pursuant to this clause (15) shall be incurred and outstanding;

 

(16)                            Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within two Business Days of its incurrence;

 

(17)                            Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries supported by a letter of credit issued pursuant to any Credit Facilities, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

 

(18)                            (a) any guarantee by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other Obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary, so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of the Senior Subordinated Indenture, or (b) any guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Issuer permitted to be incurred under the terms of the Senior Subordinated Indenture; provided that such guarantee is incurred in accordance with the covenant described below under “—Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries”;

 

(19)                            Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries of the Issuer in an amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding and together with any other Indebtedness incurred under this clause (19) 5.0% of the Total Assets of the Foreign Subsidiaries (it being understood that any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (19) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (19) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of the first paragraph of this covenant from and after the first date on which the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiaries could have incurred such Indebtedness under the first paragraph of this covenant without reliance on this clause (19));

 

(20)                            Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance or assumed in connection with an acquisition in a principal amount not to exceed $100.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding together with all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and/or Preferred Stock issued under this clause (20) (it being understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (20) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (20) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of the first paragraph of this covenant from and after the first date on which such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under the first paragraph of this covenant without reliance on this clause (20)); provided, however, that, on a pro forma basis, together with amounts incurred and outstanding by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors pursuant to the second proviso to the first paragraph of this covenant and clauses (13)(b) and (15), no more than $250.0 million of Indebtedness would be incurred and outstanding by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors;

 

(21)                            Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(22)                            Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to current or former officers, directors and employees thereof, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent described in clause (4) of the second paragraph under the caption “—Limitation on Restricted Payments.”

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant:

 

(1)                                  in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in clauses (1) through (22) above or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Issuer, in its sole discretion, will classify or reclassify such item of Indebtedness,

 

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Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in one of the above clauses; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Facilities on the Issue Date will be treated as incurred on the Issue Date under clause (1) of the preceding paragraph; and

 

(2)                                  at the time of incurrence, the Issuer will be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in the first and second paragraphs above.

 

Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this covenant.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced.

 

The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

 

Limitation on Layering

 

The Issuer will not, and will not permit any Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) that is subordinate in right of payment to any Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such Indebtedness is either:

 

(1)                                  equal in right of payment with the Senior Subordinated Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee of the Senior Subordinated Notes, as the case may be; or

 

(2)                                  expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Senior Subordinated Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee of the Senior Subordinated Notes, as the case may be, provided that this covenant shall not apply to Indebtedness incurred under clause (1) of the second paragraph under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified and Preferred Stock.”

 

The Senior Subordinated Indenture will not treat (1) unsecured Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured or (2) Senior Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to any other Senior Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral.

 

Liens

 

The Issuer will not, and will not permit any Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (except Permitted Liens) that secures obligations under any Senior Subordinated Indebtedness or Subordinated Indebtedness or any related Guarantee, on any asset or property of the Issuer or any Guarantor now owned or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits therefrom, or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, unless:

 

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(1)                                  in the case of Liens securing Subordinated Indebtedness, the Senior Subordinated Notes and related Guarantees are secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to such Liens; or

 

(2)                                  in all other cases, the Senior Subordinated Notes or the Guarantees are equally and ratably secured or are secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to such Liens.

 

Any Lien which is granted to secure the Senior Subordinated Notes under this covenant shall be discharged at the same time as the discharge of the Lien (other than through the exercise of remedies with respect thereto) that gave rise to the obligation to so secure the Senior Subordinated Notes.

 

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets

 

The Issuer may not consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Issuer is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

 

(1)                                  the Issuer is the surviving corporation or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of the Issuer or the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Company”);

 

(2)                                  the Successor Company, if other than the Issuer, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Issuer under the Senior Subordinated Notes and the Senior Subordinated Indenture pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

 

(3)                                  immediately after such transaction, no Default exists;

 

(4)                                  immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions, as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period,

 

(a)                                  the Successor Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first sentence of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock,” or

 

(b)                                 the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Company, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;

 

(5)                                  each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, in which case clause (b) of the second succeeding paragraph shall apply, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under the Senior Subordinated Indenture, the Senior Subordinated Notes and the Registration Rights Agreement; and

 

(6)                                  the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with the Senior Subordinated Indenture.

 

The Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for the Issuer, as the case may be, under the Senior Subordinated Indenture, the Guarantees and the Senior Subordinated Notes, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (3) and (4),

 

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(1)                                  any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with or merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Issuer, and

 

(2)                                  the Issuer may merge with an Affiliate of the Issuer, as the case may be, solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Issuer in a State of the United States or any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.

 

Subject to certain limitations described in the Senior Subordinated Indenture governing release of a Guarantee upon the sale, disposition or transfer of a Guarantor, no Guarantor will, and the Issuer will not permit any Guarantor to, consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Issuer or Guarantor is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

 

(1)                                  (a) such Guarantor is the surviving corporation or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability corporation or trust organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor, as the case may be, or the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Person”);

 

(b)                                 the Successor Person, if other than such Guarantor, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under the Senior Subordinated Indenture and such Guarantor’s related Guarantee pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

 

(c)                                  immediately after such transaction, no Default exists; and

 

(d)                                 the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with the Senior Subordinated Indenture; or

 

(2)                                  the transaction is made in compliance with the covenant described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales.”

 

Subject to certain limitations described in the Senior Subordinated Indenture, the Successor Person will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Guarantor under the Senior Subordinated Indenture and such Guarantor’s Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Guarantor may (i) merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to another Guarantor or the Issuer, (ii) merge with an Affiliate of the Issuer solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Guarantor in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof or (iii) convert into a corporation,